ABC Auction US$1.4 million robbers nabbed
Blessing Masakadza
THE police have made inroads in investigating the us$1.2million robbery at ABC Auctions last week with the arrest of a soldier and a cop implicated in the heist while another suspect died in a shootout with the police in Epworth.
The deceased Trymore Bondamakara was reportedly shot in a shootout as tried to flee from the police and died on admission at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
The police last week said they would respond with appropriate action if suspects engage in violent behaviour.
This was in response to violent criminals who shoot at the police and yesterday police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said they have intensified operation against armed robbers and will not rest until they are all caught
Kelvin Marimo and Osinege Zvomuya who are both members of the uniformed forces have since been charged with armed robbery and on Thursday they were sent to remand prison and advised to apply for bail at the High Court when they appeared before regional magistrate Taurai Manuwere.
According to the police, before the alleged ABC Auctions robbery, the suspects had three days earlier ambushed a security guard at Steward Bank offices and subdued him, pointing a pistol at him before breaking into the offices.
The police said the suspects allegedly broke into the main office using an iron bar and went into the tellers’ office where they took two Chubb safes and opened one using a grinder but there was nothing inside and opened the manager’s office and still found nothing before disappearing with another safe which also had nothing.
Claims are that On October 6 the suspects unlawfully entered another premise along Seke Road and stole US$110 000.
Allegations are that on October 8, the suspects together with five others who are still at large then pounced on ABC Auctions where they allegedly scaled over the wall and pointed pistols at the security guards.
They allegedly broke into the offices and destroyed six safes using grinders and explosives and made away with US$1 014 000 and jewellery including luxury 18 gold Rolex watches, diamond rings among other valuables.
On October 11, detectives from CID Homicide got information which led to the arrest of the two suspects and managed to recover us$14 239 cash and other valuables including the gold watches and rings worth us$250 000.
Zvomuya, according to the police, received US$25 000 as his share and had bought a residential stand in Madziwa where he was arrested.
