HARARE – The armed robbery case of a gang that broke into a Chinese national’s house in Harare and got away with gold and valuables worth US$50,000 became a piece of cake for detectives because, well, Big Brother was watching.
Gift Moffat, 34, and Brian Mubaiwa, 47, appeared before Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti on Monday after their burglary was caught on CCTV.
The court heard that the duo raided Zhang Guanghui’s residence on February 2, 2021, together with their still-at-large accomplices Arnold Kwarira, Costa Basiyawo, and Cain Gambara, armed with two pistols and a pair of catapults.
The gang scaled Guanghui’s precast wall and manhandled the security guard manning the premises, prosecutor Owe Safuli charged.
Mubaiwa and five other accomplices then broke into the house and tied Guanghui and five other Chinese nationals with cables demanding cash.
They went on to ransack the complainant’s house and stole 600 grams of gold, three iPhones and one Huawei cell phone, a gold chain, and US$10,000 cash before fleeing, the court heard.
Moffat was later arrested and led police to their Mazda Altezza getaway car.
Besides CCTV evidence, the prosecutor submitted that the State will consolidate its case with evidence of phone calls implicating Moffat and Mubaiwa.
The magistrate advised the two to apply for bail at the High Court.
