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Mugabe’s guard arrested for armed robbery

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TWO soldiers were yesterday brought to court facing charges of robbing a Harare man of his motor vehicle and cash.

TWO soldiers were yesterday brought to court facing charges of robbing a Harare man of his motor vehicle and cash.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Adrian Hamandawana, who is attached to the Zimbabwe National Army’s Mechanised Battalion at Inkomo Barracks, and Tafadzwa Saungweme, attached to the Presidential Guard in Harare, appeared before magistrate Barbara Chimboza and were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The two were remanded to May 18 for routine remand.

It is the State’s case that on January 28 this year, Hamandawana and Saungweme, in the company of Timothy Chuma and Petros Mubaiwa, who are already in remand prison in Bindura, hatched a plan to rob Anthony Francis Hickey of his property.

In pursuance to their plan, the State alleges, they proceeded to Hickey’s place of residence in Belvedere, Harare, on the same day. Upon arrival at the residence at around 9pm, the suspects allegedly scaled over the pre-cast wall and removed hinges on the kitchen door before removing the stable door to gain entry into the house.

Inside the house, it is alleged, they found Hickey in his bedroom in the company of his children Anthony Jr and Breanne watching television.

One of the suspects allegedly produced a pistol, cocked it and pointed it at Hickey, who was lying on his bed. The State alleges the other two suspects manhandled Hickey and tied both of his hands and legs together using adhesive tape and electric cables, which they had brought along with.

It is alleged they further tied the two children using the adhesive tape and electric cables.

After tying their victims, they started assaulting Hickey and his children with a switch demanding cash and his firearm.

Hickey allegedly showed the suspects the cash safe, which was not locked and had only $300, which was in his bedroom.

The suspects allegedly took the cash and ransacked the whole house stealing a cellphone, tablet, six pairs of shoes, shaving bag and kit, three gold rings, two gold chains, gold medallion, foodstuffs, LG DVD player, Sony camera, assorted perfumes and various clothes.

The suspects further demanded the electric gate remote control and keys for Hickey’s BMW vehicle and they loaded the loot and drove away. The gang later dumped the vehicle along an unnamed road that branches off from Rekai Tangwena Avenue adjacent to City Sports Centre with the car keys in ignition after stealing a spare wheel, wheel spanner, jack and electric jumpers.

The State alleges the gang was sold out by a cellphone, which was being used by one Shelter Dupwe, who implicated Rafael Muzonde, who in turn implicated Chuma.

Chuma and Mubaiwa had been arrested for other offences in Bindura and they allegedly implicated Saungweme and Hamandawana as their accomplices, leading to their arrest.

Upon arrest, Saungweme and Hamandawana were allegedly found in possession of the perfumes stolen from Hickey and they also made indications.

The State alleges the value of the stolen items was $11 534 and the value recovered was $5 706.

Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.