ARMED ROBBERS DENIED BAIL
SUSPECTED armed robbers, Arnold Kwarira and Cain Gambara, who evaded arrest for two years, have been denied bail pending trial.
Kwarira and Gambara are part of a four-member gang that allegedly stole 600 grams of gold and US$10 000 cash from Chinese nationals whose Borrowdale house they broke into in 2021.
The two was arrested in November last year.
In denying them bail, High Court judge, Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, said there are worrying integrity issues surrounding their release.
Justice Mutevedzi said Kwarira and Gambara knew that they were wanted by police, but never bothered to present themselves, hence they are likely to abscond if granted bail.
“They are likely to abscond and are likely to commit further offences if admitted to bail. I considered it prudent to dismiss as I did both applicants’ applications for bail pending trial.
“Kwarira and Gambara do not deny that there is reasonable suspicion that they committed a ghastly robbery which must have left the victims terrified and horror-stricken,” ruled Justice Mutevedzi.
He said the courts must protect both the victims and society from such criminals.
“The criminal justice system, including the bail system, is not built solely for the benefit of those accused of crime. It is meant to equally protect the victims of crime and society generally.
“The factors which a court must take into consideration when determining whether or not to grant an applicant bail vindicate my conclusions,” reads the judgement.
The State said on February 2, 2021, at around 7pm, Kwirira, Gambara, Gift Moffat and Costa Basiyawo went to rob Zhang Guanghui.
The four used a Mazda Atenza as a getaway car which they parked at a foot outlet in Pomona.
Moffat remained in the car, while the rest of the gang went to Zhang’s home armed with two unidentified pistols and a pair of catapults.
They scaled the precast wall and grabbed the security guard, Zhang and five other Chinese nationals.
They tied Zhang’s hands with cables and assaulted him before robbing him of 600g of gold, iPhone cellphones, one Huawei cellphone, one gold chain and US$10 000 cash.