CIO operative arrested for robbery
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...By GETRUDE GUMEDE
Published: January 25, 2010
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ZIMBABWE – GWANDA – THE four-man gang which robbed a Gwanda miner of two kilogrammes of gold, R90 000 and expensive jewelry, went on a spending spree in South Africa where they bought luxurious vehicles and other goods.
Their loot also included a gold chain, two gold rings, an emerald ring and a pistol.
The gang included a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), his brother who is an ex-CIO member, a police officer and a civilian from Collen Bawn.
They were arrested at different locations last week.
They had however crossed into South Africa and sold their loot before buying two luxurious Mercedes Benz MLs, a double cab Toyota Hilux, Nissan Hardbody double cab, a luxurious BMW, a Toyota Corolla and two computers, among other goods.
The Officer Commanding the Criminal Investigations Department in Gwanda, Chief Superintendent Abigail Moyo said all the suspects appeared in court in Gwanda on Friday and were remanded in custody.
“One of the accused was the provincial administrator of the CIO, Robson Talkmore Mapurisa, who supplied the pistols which were used in the robbery. Another suspect is Constable Admire Chihambakwe, a police officer based in Gwanda, who supplied the uniforms.
We have also arrested Hebert Mapurisa an ex-CIO member and Misheck Machemedzi from Colleen Bawn,” she said.
The suspects were arrested on different dates in Harare, Beitbridge, Bulawayo and Kadoma as they were on the run after picking information that they were wanted in connection with the robbery.
Chief Supt Moyo said the gang had also smuggled the Mercedes Benz MLs, one through the Plumtree Border Post and the other through the Beitbridge Border Post.
They allegedly went to the miner’s home a day before the robbery, under the guise of being police officers who were assigned to give people tips on how to protect themselves from armed robbers.
They told the miner that they would return the following day for a “detailed discussion” on security.
When they came, they asked the miner to show them where he kept his gun and when he complied, one of the suspects grabbed him from behind and tied his hands with a wire.
They also tied his wife and maid and stole the cash and jewelry before forcing them to drink a concoction, which contained sleeping tablets.
The victims were admitted to Gwanda District Hospital, as they were heavily intoxicated, resulting in police officers investigating the case delaying their interviews.-The Zimbabwe Telegraph