A Harare businessman is in trouble after he illegally sold his pistol to another man who used it to commit suicide at a local hotel.
Timothy Munetsi (62) allegedly sold his 7.65mm Bernadeli Pistol to Prince Kudzai Machimbirike on 15 September 2017 without following proper procedures as required by the Firearms Act.
Munetsi allegedly acquired a 7.65mm Bernadeli Pistol serial number 13916 and was issued a firearm certificate number 834426 which authorised him to use the firearm for the purpose of protection of cash in transit.
The license cetificate, according to the police, expired on 1 December 2014. On 15 September 2017, the accused unlawfully transferred ownership of the pistol to the late Machimbirike who used it to commit suicide at Rainbow Towers the following day.
Detectives who attended the scene at Rainbow Towers conducted checks on the firearm and it was discovered that it belonged to Munetsi leading to his arrest.
Munetsi appeared before Harare Magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta facing two counts of contravening the Firearms Act for failing to comply with the law and that of unlawful transfer of a firearm. Sabarauta postponed the matter indefinitely to provide the State time to bring the ballistic report.
