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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A GARDENER has been implicated in the case in which an Indian businessman was robbed of $56 000 by a gang of 11 people, including six cops.

The gang allegedly mounted a fake roadblock in Belvedere, Harare, where it pounced on Mr Nunaid Pervaiz.

The State is alleging that the gardener (name not supplied) has since skipped the border to South Africa.

The gardener reportedly supplied information to his friend Kelvin Makiyi (28). Makiyi in turn conveyed the information to his uncle Chris Kadungure alias Butter Makiyi (46) who then roped in the other alleged accomplices.

Kelvin and Butter appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe yesterday charged with robbery.

They were remanded in custody to today for bail application. This brings to six the number of people arrested so far in connection with the case. The pair was represented by Mr Stephen Chikotora.

Investigations carried out so far revealed that after robbing Mr Pervaiz, the 11 suspects splashed the loot on vehicles and household property.

The cars, which were all bought on July 27, include a Mercedes Benz, Toyota Altezza and a Mazda Familia.

Kelvin led to the recovery of a bed and a wardrobe he had bought using the proceeds.

Four of the suspects — Dickson Morosi (32), Kundai Makwarimba (35), Bekezele Masuku (44) and Fortune Sibanda (29) — were denied bail by Mr Mahwe.

He ruled that there was overwhelming evidence against the suspects.

Butter Makiyi has four previous convictions, which include assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and extortion.

Kelvin Makiyi has a previous conviction for theft and a pending case of fraud.

The court heard that the gang was driving a silver Toyota Spacio and a Honda Fit without number plates.

They waylaid Pervaiz along Hudson Road where they had mounted a fake roadblock.

They grabbed a bag with cash amounting to $56 000, jumped into their getaway cars and sped off.