Taurai Pangai, a 33-year-old man accused of being part of a dangerous syndicate that orchestrated a r0bbery at Dahwe Chrome Mine, faced armed r0bbery charges in a Harare court yesterday.
The court, presided over by regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, deemed the allegations serious enough to deny Pangai bail, mandating his detention until November 19, while advising him to seek bail through the High Court.
The prosecution, represented by Lancelot Mutsokoti, detailed how Pangai and 11 accomplices executed the heist on August 27, arriving at the mine in a grey Mazda BT50, where they overpowered employees and confiscated their cellphones to obstruct communication with authorities.
Notably, one mine worker was assaulted and forced to divulge the location of the Chinese mine owners’ residence.
Upon confronting the owners in their dining room, three armed r0bbers brandished firearms, snatching their cellphones, before breaking into the accountant’s bedroom.
There, they bound her and demanded cash, ultimately discovering and stealing $120,000 cash that was hidden beneath her mattress.
To instill fear in bystanders who attempted to aid the victims, one member of the gang discharged a firearm into the air.
Their escape included stealing a white Toyota Hilux GD-6 Revo, which was later recovered by police after a high-speed chase, found abandoned in the Zanado area of Concession.
The investigation culminated in Pangai’s arrest on October 3, after detectives traced a Toyota Allion he had purchased, allegedly with his portion of the stolen funds, adding further weight to the case against him and his alleged accomplices.
