Econet base station robbery masterminds jailed
BULAWAYO – Trio from Bulawayo slapped with 16-year jail terms, with 6 years suspended and fined $600 for stealing 2,900 litres of diesel from Econet Wireless base stations and robbing security security guards.
Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mrs. Dambudzo Malunga handed down a 16-year jail term to Themba Moyo (55) of Njube suburb, Carlton Ndlovu (44), and Tshidzani Mpofu (33) but suspended six years, reducing the effective sentence to 10 years. The reduction considered factors such as good behavior, lengthy imprisonment and the defendants’ status as family men and breadwinners.
As part of the sentence, an additional three years were suspended, contingent upon the trio paying $2 000 each to Econet Wireless as compensation for damages incurred.
The trio was additionally slapped with a $600 fine for operating an unlicensed diesel sales business or six months imprisonment in default.
According to the prosecution, led by Owen Mugari, it was proven that on May 27, the trio arrived at an Econet base station in Rangemore suburb in a silver-grey Honda Fit driven by Mpofu.
The court heard that Moyo and Ndlovu armed with a spanner and bolt cutter, approached the security guard on duty, tied him up with cable ties and then stole his two Itel cell phones.
After overpowering the guard, the accused persons dragged him to a nearby isolated area about 30-40 meters from the base station and ordered him to lie flat on the ground.
It is alleged that the duo broke into the base station using spanners to drain 900 liters of diesel by removing the tank’s drain plug.
Afterwards, they transported the stolen fuel to Emakhandeni suburb where they sold it to fuel dealers, Itayi Yekeye, Dumisile Nkiwane and Perseverance Hove.
Following a tip-off from one of the accused, police recovered 1,020 liters of diesel from a dealer’s residence, valued at US$992.
The court further heard that on June 3, the trio targeted another Econet base station along Bulawayo/Nkayi Road. Armed with tools, they incapacitated the security guard, bound him with cable ties and stole a Techno cell phone, US$150 in cash, a laptop, a pair of sneakers and 2,000 liters of diesel. The stolen items and 620 liters of diesel were later recovered from Mpofu’s residence and the fuel dealers, respectively.
