SILOBELA — A man suspected of being part of a gang, which robbed a miner of $25 000 has reportedly committed suicide in police custody after swallowing cyanide.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
Court papers showed that Nevson Chipere, who was allegedly the leader of a five-men machete wielding gang, which robbed Godwin Milanzi of $25 000 last October, killed himself at the scene of the crime, while assisting police with indications.
Chipere was arrested in Harare last month, where he was on a spending spree following the heist near Gweru River in Silobela.
His co-accused Lovemore Moyo (22), Chrispen Moses Chipupu (28) and Cloud Sibanda (18), who were arrested with the help of Chipere, were remanded in custody when they appeared before provincial magistrate, Letwin Rwodzi on Wednesday.
The State, led by Fiona Mkwena, alleged that Moyo, Chipupu and Sibanda, in the company of now deceased, Chipere and Itai Chipere, who is still at large, ambushed Milanzi on his way to Sadza 10 mine.
On the day of the robbery, Milanzi was going to pay salaries for his mine workers.
Armed with machetes and stones, the five threatened to kill Milanzi if he did not surrender the bag which had the money. Milanzi allegedly handed over the money, a Samsung S3 and his driver’s licence to the gang before they took off. Police received information that Chipere was on a spending spree in Harare, leading to his arrest and with his help, Moyo, Chipupu and Sibanda were also apprehended.
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Police recovered the licence, bag and $2 665 as well as property worth $3 343, which included flat screen TVs and luxury beds bought using the proceeds of the robbery.
The trio, who are denying the offence, will be back in court on March 22 to open their defence.
