POLICE in Harare have arr3sted a man linked to five r0bbery cases involving property worth US$59 230.
Robert Benson was on Tuesday this week brought before Harare magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka, who remanded him in custody to May 15 for possible allocation of a trial date.
Chakanyuka also advised Benson to approach the High Court for bail.
Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje alleged that on December 1 last year, Benson, who was in the company of his accomplices who are already on remand, armed themselves with m@chetes, stones and iron bars before committing the alleged crimes.
Wielding kn!ves, Benson and his accomplices allegedly pounced on Takudzwa Kelvin Kamadiro, who was driving from Ruwa to Harare city centre and demanded valuables.
The r0bbers allegedly st@bbed Kamadiro on the right thigh before str!pping him n@ked while one of the att@ckers took control of the motor vehicle and drove towards the city centre.
The court also heard that the alleged r0bbers tied Kamadiro’s hands and legs using shoe laces and stole his cellphone. Kamadiro was reportedly later dumped in Mabvuku.
Chirenje also told the court that detectives on December 2 last year received information that Kamadiro’s vehicle had been found abandoned in Mungate Village, Domboshava.
On a different count, Benson and his accomplices allegedly approached Knowledge Chamakore, a taxi driver based at Ziko in Chitungwiza.
The court heard that they hired Chamakore from Harare city centre to Epworth and on the way, Benson allegedly grabbed and forced him off the steering wheel, took control of the motor vehicle, while his accomplices str!pped Chamakore and r0bbed him of his cellphone and cash.
They dumped him in Ruwa and drove off with his vehicle. Chamakore was later assisted by a good Samaritan who accompanied him to ZRP Epworth, where he made a report.
SOURCE : NEWSDAY
