The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Monday, March 22, 1993 — Dumisani Hobe, a robbery suspect who made a daring midmorning escape from police custody on Friday as he and four alleged accomplices were being taken to the magistrate’s court in Bulawayo was arrested in Pumula in the early hours of yesterday.

Sources said Hobe was picked by police at about 4AM when he tried to sneak into a house in Pumula where he is believed to have been a lodger before his arrest recently on allegations of involvement in an armed robbery of $177 590.50 from the Belmont branch of Zimbank.

Eyewitness said Hobe still had handcuffs on one of his wrists when police pounced on him after a short chase when he tried to escape.

Arrested with Hobe in connection with the robbery which occurred on December 19 last year were Tony Moyo (21), Partson Sibindi (28), Sibonginkosi Sibanda (26) and Lorraine Ndlovu (21), who is believed to be Hobe’s girlfriend.

The four appeared in court on Saturday and three of them, Moyo, Sibindi and Ndlovu were remanded in custody to April 2, while Sibanda is expected to appear today.

Hobe made his dramatic dash for freedom as he was about to enter the Tredgold Building which houses the magistrates’ courts. A member of the Criminal Investigation Department, a Detective Constable Moyo, who was one of the officers escorting the group, was hit by a car before he was run over by a lorry as he chased after Hobe who ran off into the city centre.