HARARE – A notorious armed robber believed to be part of Musa Taj Abdul’s gang known for evading arrest for two decades appeared in court Wednesday charged with defeating the course of justice.
Cornwell Kasambarare, it is alleged, secured bail after conniving with former Harare High Court prosecutor Henry Mugove Muringani who altered his charges to a lesser offence of unlawful entry.
Acting on the misrepresentation, court granted him bail.
The 31-year-old Kasambarare was arrested on Tuesday.
According to court papers, he was arrested for a case of armed robbery in 2021 and was remanded in custody after several of his bail attempts failed at the High Court.
While he was at Harare Remand Prison, he hatched a plan to seek freedom through illicit means.
He allegedly connived with Muringani to amend state papers and forge a lesser charge.
The forged papers were filed with the Registrar of High Court.
Court papers also show that in 2020, Kasambarare and his gang raided Mashwede Holdings in Arcadia, Harare and made off with US$100,000, R42,000, $14,000 worth of fuel coupons, firearms and 20 live rounds of ammunition.
He had been granted bail at the Harare Magistrate’s Court but went on to commit other armed robberies before his arrest in January 2021.
Court heard that on January 9, 2021, Kasambarare, together with his accomplices Mike Harris Chiyangwa, Spicer Takawira and Chamunorwa Takawira, broke into PetZim Service Station in Highfield, Harare.
When they got to the fuel station, they allegedly pretended to have come to refuel and when the attendant tried to assist him, one of them produced a pistol and manhandled the security guard.
The suspects then force-marched the attendant and guard to the service station office and tied their hands and feet with shoelaces and committed robbery.
