$2 million Cash Heist In Harare : Six Men Arrested In The Biggest Ever Cash Heist Recorded in Zimbabwe
Business Crime & Courts Main News Zimbabwe

$2 million Cash Heist In Harare : Six Men Arrested In The Biggest Ever Cash Heist Recorded in Zimbabwe

HARARE – Police have made a sixth arrest in the biggest ever cash heist recorded in Zimbabwe – the theft of nearly $2 million from a Chinese-owned company in Harare.

Police believe the April 2 raid on PHI Commodities in Aspindale was carried out by five men, with the assistance of a security guard.

On Monday, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department netted their final suspect, Edison Saidon Nyamuchegwa.

Nyamuchegwa appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa on Tuesday charged with robbery and was remanded in custody to September 4.

Security guard Francis Mazehwe, employed by Ekwood Security Services, has also been arrested, detectives believe he supplied critical information to the robbers. Mazehwe guards the premises of another company nearby.

Investigators have so far accounted for the other suspects Godfrey Jasi, 38, Taurai Dzingai, 45, Sebastin Mupambwi, 39 and Wilson Manyara, 30, who are already on remand.

The Harare Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that Mazehwe, the security guard, was caught with $32,000 hidden under his bed.

 

He told the court that he was paid $35,000 for supplying the robbers with information about where they were to find cash.

Mazehwe informed the robbers, according to prosecutors, that he would see many customers going to PHI Commodities to buy in cash.

The gang, it is alleged, made their move on April 2 this year. They parked their getaway vehicle outside the company’s premises and scaled the security wall.

Once inside, it is alleged they manhandled two security guards who were manning the premises and terrorised them before they handcuffed them and tied their legs using shoe laces.

It is alleged they stole the security guards’ mobile phones before they forced their way into the company office where they stole laptops and other valuables.

They blasted their way into the company’s strong room using explosives and stole $1,8 million which they loaded into their car together with other valuables.

It is alleged they shared the loot and went on shopping spree using the money.

Jasi bought a Mazda CX7 SUV using the money and relocated to Riddle Ridge after committing the crime.

Investigators, acting on leads, arrested Jasi first, and he implicated the others.

The state alleges there was a text message in Jasi’s phone in which he reminded his accomplices that they must save some money for their informer, Mazehwe.

Only $40,632 has been recovered so far.-ZimLive

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *