Three Harare men who were part of a six-member gang that masqueraded as police officers before looting 34 bales of tobacco among other goods belonging to a white Macheke farmer were sentenced to an effective eight months in prison by Marondera magistrate Shane Kubonera.
by Jairos Saunyama
Ajasi Ajasi (39), Wellington Kastomu (31) and Lewton Saidi (31), who denied the charges, were sentenced to one year in prison of which four months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
They were also ordered to restitute $850 to the farmer, Perry Huck Richard, by May 30.
According to court papers, on January 21 last year, the accused with their other accomplices, who are still at large, arrived at Waterloo Farm clad in police uniforms.
After storming the farm, they pounced on a security guard identified as Beka whom they accused of stealing from his employer and claimed they had come to arrest him.
They led him into a nearby bush where they tied him to a tree before looting 34 bales of processed tobacco, a compressor, some diesel and 1 000 tobacco clippers which they loaded into their truck and vanished.
The guard was only rescued by some villagers and the matter was reported to the police.
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Investigations were held leading to the arrest of the accused and police recovered the 34 bales of tobacco. Emmanuel Dera represented the State.
