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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau

The two Zimbabwean men who escaped from police custody in Limpopo province last Wednesday and were re-arrested have been each jailed for an effective 22 years for committing several armed robberies in the neighbouring country.

John Fine (36) and Clifford Mutonhori (34) were re-arrested on Saturday along with South African Figos Madisha (34) following a shootout with the police.

Their fourth accomplice, Denis Hove, a Zimbabwean, is still on the run.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the latest development last night.

“John Fine and Clifford Mutonhori were each sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for four counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three counts of possession of illegal firearm and ammunition and one count of contravening the Immigration Act,” he said.

“Their local accomplice, Figos Madisha (35), was also sentenced 22 years imprisonment for similar charges.”

Brig Mojapelo said the armed robbers were in the habit of terrorising motorists along the N1 Road.

The motorists, he said, would have stopped on the roadside to relieve themselves, or experienced breakdowns.

In some instances, the gang would throw spikes on the road to immobilise the motorists whom they would then rob at gun point.

“The crimes were committed in 2019 under the policing areas of Bela Bela, Modimolle and Mokopane,” said Brig Mojapelo.

“A dedicated team of investigators derived from the aforementioned police stations was assembled to work in a coordinated manner and to investigate all the cases that were being committed along this highway.”

Provincial police commander Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said the investigators worked tirelessly to ensure that dangerous criminals were removed from communities.