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Court Reporter
Two suspected armed robbers allegedly manhandled a family at dinner table before stealing 45 000 euro at gunpoint in Greendale, Harare.Kudakwashe Chidoti (33) and Fungai Shonhiwa (40) yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Milton Serima facing armed robbery charges.

The pair, represented by their lawyer Mr Tawanda Takaindisa, was remanded in custody to January 20 and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

However, Mr Takaindisa told the court that the pair was heavily assaulted by the police and forced to sign statements under duress.

“They both need medical treatment,” he said.

The prosecutor, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa, was ordered to investigate the complaints and Mr Serima also ordered that the pair gets treated for injuries sustained.

Mr Mutizirwa alleged that on December 29, the pair, in company of four others still at large, went to a house in Greendale armed with a pistol.

They entered through an unlocked passage door leading to the lounge and allegedly manhandled the family, who were having dinner with their domestic worker.

It is alleged that the gang pointed the firearm and threatened to kill them if they resisted before force-marching the domestic worker into the passage.

They forced her to lie on the floor.

Then they tied the complainant’s hands and legs with an electric cable.

It is alleged that they punched him all over the body and went to his bedroom where they opened his wardrobe.

They allegedly opened his safe containing 45 000 euro, which was in 500 euro denominations, and a pistol.

It is alleged that the complainant fell unconscious and the gang made off with the money and firearm.