Two Bulawayo men have been brought before the courts on conspiracy to rob charges after their plan to rob a burial society of members’ contributions was thwarted.
Report by Khulani Nkabinde
The two men, Bhekani (20) and Pilate Moyo (29), both of Pumula East suburb, are facing a conspiracy to rob charge, as defined under Section 188 (1) (a) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
They appeared on Wednesday before magistrate Witness Mtetwa.
Prosecutor Marlvin Nzombe told the court that the two men devised a plan to rob a burial society of its members’ contributions after visiting a house in Tshabalala suburb to collect $5 from Mgcini Dube, which was the balance from a cellphone they had bought from him.
“When the two accused persons got to the house in Tshabalala suburb they spotted some people counting cash in the living room,” he said.
“When Dube got outside to give them the $5, they told him that he should not have delayed paying them since there were people counting a lot of money at his residence.
“Dube told them that it was not his, but belonged to a burial society.”
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The accused persons allegedly told Dube that they intended returning the coming week to rob the burial society members.
“On June 8, Dube received a call from Bhekani who said they should meet and devise a plan to rob the burial society,” Nzombe said.
“Dube phoned the police and advised them about the impending robbery. They advised him to phone Criminal Investigations Department Nkulumane which he did.”
A follow-up was made on the two at a shopping centre in Tshabalala and upon being searched, a grey toy CI air gun was found in a bag that was being carried by Pilate.
They were immediately arrested.
The two, however, complained in court that they were assaulted in police custody. The magistrate ruled that a medical report should be produced as an exhibit.
The two were remanded in custody and will appear on June 26 for trial.
