38-year prison sentence for Bindura armed robbery trio
BINDURA – Bindura Magistrates Court has handed down stiff sentences to three Bindura men for a string of armed robberies in Nyakudya Mazarura village, Bindura, in April where they used iron bars to break into homes and stole cellphones, groceries, money and other valuable items.
Ladma Mutesa (39) Tapiwa Nyakudya (31) and Sande Saini (32) were convicted on 10 counts of armed robbery.
According to State papers, on April 21, 2024, Mutesa Nyakudya and Saini, aided by accomplices Mike Mapona (also known as Murefu) and Fungai who remain at large, stormed a residence in Nyakudya Mazarura village under Chief Masembura.
The assailants used iron bars to force open the back door, gaining entry into the main house where six victims were sleeping.
Once inside, they violently manhandled the victims, binding their hands with brick force wire.
The accused persons next demanded cellphones and ransacked the house, stealing groceries, household goods and $350 cash.
The following night, the same accused individuals targeted another house in the same village, knocking on the door and falsely identifying themselves as police officers.
Upon opening the door, the complainants were manhandled and force-marched to the main house where their cellphones were forcibly seized.
Later, another complainant returned home driving a Toyota Quantum and was ambushed by the gang.
They assaulted him with clenched fists and dragged him to a nearby pigsty where they bound his hands and legs to a pole.
The gang then stole his cellphone and fled in his motor vehicle.
However, the vehicle soon developed a mechanical fault and was abandoned approximately 2 kilometers away from the scene.
The vehicle was later recovered.
The court heard that on April 23, 2024, the first accused was arrested based on a tip-off. This initial arrest led to the apprehension of the second accused ahd third accused person.
The total value of stolen property was $15 450 and authorities successfully recovered $13 450 of the stolen goods.
