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Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent 

A SUSPECTED robber who was shot while trying to flee from a crime scene and later tricked police to regard him as a victim of a robbery in order to get medical assistance was yesterday arraigned before the courts.

Godfrey Magadu (31) was facing charges of attempted armed robbery and deliberately supplying false information to a public official when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.

He was remanded in custody to October 31. Magadu is currently hospitalised, under guard, at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

The other accomplices are on the run.

The State alleged Magadu and his accomplices wanted to rob Chemical Merchants Company in Waterfalls, Harare.

They were armed with three shortguns and proceeded to the company where security men, Mr Given Nyakarare and Mr Samson Mupandawana armed with a revolver were standing guard. 

Magadu and his accomplices manhandled one of the security guards, Mr Mupandawana, and force-marched him into one of the offices.

They assaulted him while demanding to know where cash and valuables were kept and started breaking down office doors. Mr Nyakarare ran away and hid behind the offices.

Magadu and his accomplices noted that one of the guards was outside and went on to confront him. 

The security guard who was outside fired two shots towards the gang approaching him. One member of the gang was shot on the forehead and died. Magadu was shot on the left side of the rib cage and managed to escape. 

They dropped their shotgun, dragged their accomplice who had been shot and dumped him about 1km from the scene and went away. 

Then on October 18, Magadu personally went to ZRP Southlea Park, Harare where he made a false report to Sergeant Luke Deza that he had been robbed and shot by four unknown accused at Masteps, Hopley, Harare. 

He gave a false name and presented himself as Franklyin Mubaiwa. He further mentioned that he had privately sought medical attention and was referred to the police first before he could be attended to since it was a gunshot wound. 

Acting on the false report and noting his state, police gave him a request of medical treatment form and made arrangements that he be taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital for treatment. 

He was later referred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where it was found he was a robber, not a victim.