GUARDS STEAL US$53K FROM CRIME SCENE, PAY LOBOLA, BUY CARS AND A STAND
TWO security guards allegedly picked up US$53 000, which had been dropped by a gang of robbers who struck at Quest Financial Services, and one of them used the money to pay lobola.
Cornelius Muchikange and Nesbert Kachungwe, who are both aged 35, attended the crime scene as part of the reactionary teams that were called during the Quest Financial Services robbery where US$710 000 was stolen.
During their escape, the gang of robbers left a grinder, some detonators, a bag with two laptops and dropped cash amounting to US$5000 in the premises and escaped through the back of the office.
Outside the office, one of the paper bags the robbers were using to carry money was torn and all the cash dropped to the ground and the robbers escaped without picking it up.
The two security guards patrolled the premises and found the cash amounting to approximately US$53 000.
They took it and shared it.
The duo pleaded guilty to the offence of theft, when they appeared in court yesterday, and are back in court today for sentencing.
On Friday, detectives from CID Homicide Harare were tipped that the guards stole cash which was dropped by robbers at the scene.
Upon interrogation, Muchikange led the police to the recovery of a Nissan Sulphy, registration number AEB 2456, which he bought for US$3700 using the proceeds of the crime.
He further led detectives to Eastview, Harare, where he bought a residential stand for US$6 000.
He also told the police he had used US$2 500 to pay lobola to his in laws.
It was also established that he was approached by six men, masquerading as police officers, whoo took the remainder of the money he had, which amounted to US$15 000.
Kachungwe led the police to the recovery of a Nissan AD Van, registration number AGN 3461, which he bought for USD$6 100 using the proceeds.
He also bought building materials valued at US$1000.
He claimed fake police officers also took US$7000 from him.
Zebediah Bofu appeared for the State.