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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter—
Six policemen reportedly connived with four civilians and mounted a fake roadblock in Belvedere, Harare, where they robbed an Indian businessman of over $56 000 and splashed the loot on vehicles. Three members of the gang have since been arrested, leading to the recovery of the vehicles. The cars, which were all bought on July 27, include a Mercedes Benz, Toyota Altezza and a Mazda Familia.

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The gang got wind that Junaid Pervaiz was transporting money from his shop to his house in Belvedere and hatched a plan to rob him. Dickson Morosi (32), Kundai Makwarimba (35) and Fortune Sibanda (29) yesterday appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe who remanded them in custody to today for bail application. Their alleged accomplices are still at large.

Makwarimba and Sibanda are stationed at Harare Central Police Station and Police Protection Unit Escorts, Morris Depot respectively, while Morosi’s brother — who is still at large — is also a policeman. The three are being represented by Mr Tawanda Takaendesa of Mugiya and Macharaga Legal Practitioners.

According to the State, Morosi led to the recovery of a Mazda Familiar and $500 cash, while Makwarimba had the Altezza he bought impounded. Sibanda led police to the recovery of a Mercedes Benz.

Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that the gang got inside information that Pervaiz was transporting a large sum of money from his business premises to his house.

Acting in connivance and in pursuance to their plan, the gang, the court heard, drove in a silver Toyota Spacio and a Honda Fit both without registration number plates and waylaid him along Hudson Road, Belvedere.

They had mounted a fake police roadblock with two of them wearing police uniforms and traffic reflective sleeves. As the complainant approached the “roadblock” while driving his Toyota Runx, he was flagged down by the gang and he complied.

The court further heard that they forcibly pulled out his car keys from the ignition and searched his vehicle. They found a black satchel which was at the back passenger’s seat and demanded to know its contents.

One of the accused persons then opened the satchel and found cash amounting to $56 800. They suddenly grabbed the bag and jumped into their gateaway cars and drove off.