Serial numbers not recorded in US$ 2,7m heist: Witness

THE serial numbers of the US dollar banknotes stolen in the Chinhoyi US$2,7 million money heist in 2021 had not been recorded before the cash was loaded into the security van from where it was stolen, allegedly by those responsible for guarding it, but the police accept, from what they were told by those with the cash later, that what they have recovered was in fact from that haul.

The fifth prosecution witness, Detective Inspector Damson Chatukuta, yesterday testified in his evidence-in-chief before Harare regional magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa on how he arrested Tendai Zuze and Dennis Madondo.

The other five accused are Shadreck Njowa who is employed by ZB Bank Internal Security as manager for cash in transit, Neverson Mwamuka,Trymore Chapfika, Tozivepi Chirara and Tatenda Gadzikwa.

He told the court that as a result of investigations police managed to arrest the two and recovered over US$90 000.

“It was on January 7, 2021 when I was in the company of fourth other police officers when we arrested Gerald Rutizirira in connection with a case of armed robbery which had occurred 6 January 2021 near Gwebi River,” he said.

“Upon his arrest, we recovered cash of US$96 100, a Toyota Hiace, and a Toyota Hilux which was used as a gateway vehicle at the commissioning of the robbery.

Detective Inspector Chatukuta said on January 10, he received information via a telephone call linking Zuze whom they arrested in Buhera and he led them to the recovery of cash US $25 000 and also US $10 000 from his wife at his place of residence in Mbare.

Three days later Det Insp Chatukuta said he received information linking Madondo to the offence and was able to arrest him in Murehwa where he led them to the recovery of a Mercedes Benz, and US$62 500 that was hidden underground in a bushy area.

Det Insp Chatukuta was asked by the counsel of the two accused if he had evidence that the recovered money belonged to ZB Bank as they argued that the two were gold dealers who have a lot of money.

“The explanation given by the accused persons made me know that the money belonged to the bank. As for the professions of the two accused persons, I am hearing it for the first time because they never mentioned that upon arrest.

He insisted that although ZB Bank might not be able to identify the money as its own, but the circumstances of this case and how police managed to recover the containers carrying the money that was stolen from the accused person made it clear that this was the bank’s money.

Det Insp Chatukuta said the recovered money had serial numbers which police recorded in their exhibit book.

Although the six lawyers representing all the accused tried to grill Det Insp Chatukuta in their cross examination over the credentials of his informant who was anonymous, he maintained that the person was reliable.

He said there was a possibility that the anonymous informant could have been part of the gang that robbed the money but had a misunderstanding with the team causing him to give clues to the police on the other suspects.

Prosecuting, Mr Loveit Muringwa alleged that on January 6, 2021, the three security staffers Nomatter Jonga (43), Mathew Simango (66) and Fanuel Musakwa (34) were tasked to carry seven boxes containing US$2 775 000 and $43 090.

This cash was to be ferried to ZB branches - Chinhoyi US$75 000, Kadoma US$25 000, Kwekwe and Gweru US$150 000 each, Bulawayo US$200 000, Gwanda US$50 000 and Zvishavane US$100 000.

They were travelling in a Toyota Hilux single cab with a canopy, secured with a tracker and emergency panic button.

Upon reaching the 60km peg, Jonga stopped the vehicle and a fake robbery was staged.

The State alleges that an Isuzu twin cab immediately arrived at the scene with people who were armed with pistols.

Jonga, Simango and Musakwa surrendered their pistol and rifle before driving their Toyota Hilux for about 900 metres where the gang offloaded the cash boxes into the Isuzu which then drove off.

So far police have recovered US$693 026 and $1 410, motor vehicles worth US$133 400, three houses valued at US$115 000 bringing to total value recovered to US$941 426.