Three armed ‘cops’ robbers sentenced

THREE armed ex-convicts who wore police regalia to rob Luveve Housing Office in Bulawayo where they got away with a ZTE cellphone and a municipality police cap have each been sentenced to 24 months in prison.

Bernard Phiri (47) of New Lobengula suburb, Mduduzi Mahlangu (31) of Nketa 7 suburb and Morris Mwayipopo (33) of Cowdray Park suburb savagely attacked two security guards Mr Caution Ncube (31) and Mr Elijah Khumalo (61) who were on duty on the 4th of this month at around 2AM.

Phiri, Mahlangu and Mwayipopo were armed with knives and a wheel spanner which they covered up and pretended it was a gun. They threatened to kill Mr Ncube with the “gun.” A court heard that the trio tied up Ncube’s hands and legs with shoe laces and gagged him with a television cable, before demanding cash.

The three accused were convicted on their own pleas by Mr Tinashe Tashaya.

He sentenced each of the trio to 24 months in prison but suspended six months for five years on condition that they do not within the period commit a similar offence.

Phiri served eight years in prison for another robbery while Mahlangu served four years for theft. Mwayipopo served eight years for rape. Mr Tashaya said the fact that the three accused went on to commit robbery after their release from prisons confirmed that they had learnt nothing from jail.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said the trio entered the housing office premises through cutting a hole on the perimeter fence on the western side and went to the security office. — @cynthiamthembo1.