Mozambican robber denied bail again

A MOZAMBICAN robber who was part of a notorious syndicate that terrorised Mutare residents with machetes was on Wednesday denied bail for the second time.

The suspect Domingo Luis Zuze (29), of Bairo Vumba, Manica, Mozambique, faces a third schedule offence and the court feared that he would not stand trial if freed on bail.

He appeared before Ms Perseverance Makala, who further remanded him in custody to December 24, for sentencing.

Zuze was arrested on December 1, 2018 on the allegations of rape as defined in Section 65 and 24 counts of armed robbery as defined in Section 131(2) (a) of Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.

He is a member of the gang that terrorised residents with machetes, knives, harmers and all sorts of deadly weapons.

After he had applied for bail, Ms Makala ruled that he is facing a serious offence and was a flight risk as he is of no fixed abode.

She also argued that Zuze had previous convictions and pending cases at court, a feat that will likely fuel his chances of absconding if granted bail.

She also said the people’s lives and properties were safe with him in custody.

Allegations are that for the past three months, Zuze and his fugitive accomplices, Agoshtinyu Chirara and one Peter, broke into 24 houses and stole household property worth thousands of dollars.

They allegedly raped their female victims in the process.

“The criminal offences he committed were extremely damaging as most people lost hundreds of dollars and some women’s lives got destroyed since they were raped,” prosecutor Mr Matthew Chimutunga told the court.