Cops allegedly torture suspected robber in co n

POLICE detectives placed a suspected armed robber in a co n and trained a rearm to his head while threatening to kill the suspect to force him to admit the crimes.

This emerged at the Beitbridge magistrates court yesterday where James Ndou and Ngonidzashe Dzumbunu were facing armed robbery charges.

Their lawyer Muchihwande Forbes Sithole said his clients were severely tortured in custody.

Ndou and Dzumbunu are charged alongside Brilliant Gibbons, Reluctance Muleya and Siphelani Urayayi, all Beitbridge locals.

"These accused before you were assaulted and tortured with di erent objects including pairs of pliers to pinch Ndou's ears,” Sithole submitted.

“He (Ndou), like others, was also beaten under his feet. “But I want to draw the court's attention to the fact that Ndou was placed in a co n described as cold as a refrigerator and asked to relieve himself in the same when he asked to answer nature's call.”

Sithole was addressing the court when asked whether his clients had complaints against police.

“Can the court order an investigation on this,” Sithole said, adding that his clients were also denied medical attention for injuries sustained during torture.

"The police took the accused to hospital and instead of having them treated, they made them sit on the bench and started discussing with hospital sta before bundling them back into the car,” the lawyer argued.

“I pray that the court gives an order that the accused are seen by a medical doctor and medical reports are brought to court.”

Gibbons, Muleya, Ndou, Dzumbunu and Urayayi are accused of committing a series of armed robberies within Beitbridge in the last six months.

On September 23, 2023, they allegedly raided Loice Moyo of 4612 Mangavha in Dulivhadzimo and robbed her of R3100 and cellphones at gunpoint.

On October 2, 2023 they robbed Panganai Sithole and Percy Nago of Dulivhadzimo US$1 215 and R26 400.

On November 3, 2023 they robbed a Glow Petroleum crew of R167 000.

The suspects were arrested on January 15 this year. They were all remanded in custody until February 3. —BY REX MPHISA