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Prosper Dembedza Court Correspondent

Harare regional magistrate Mr Themba Kuwanda has issued a warrant of arrest to suspected armed robber Douglas Mutenda, who is believed to be a member of a gang led by alleged criminal mastermind Musa Taj Abdul after he failed to show up at court.

Mutenda is facing several counts of armed robberies and was last year released on $5 000 bail after the State consented to bail on the basis that some of his co-accused were also out on bail.

He was re-arrested on Christmas Eve in Mhondoro after a warrant of arrest was issued against him for absconding.

Mutenda will stand trial with co-accused Prince Makodza, Carrington Marasha, Liberty Mupanhanga, Godfrey Mupamhanga, Spicer Takawira, Musafare Mupanhanga and Rudolf Kanhanga.

In opposing his bail last year, the State argued that the prosecution had a strong case against him.

The State also submitted that Mutenda had led to recoveries of some of the stolen items adding that there was Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage showing him at one of the crime scenes, Mashwede entertainment centre in Glen View, Harare where they got away with more than US$100 000 in an armed robbery.

His accomplices also implicated him and there were phone calls linking him to the offence, all of which left the prosecution with a strong case.