A member of the gang that ambushed passengers on a Blue Circle bus on July 18, 2024, was found guilty of armed robbery and received an 84-year prison sentence.
The four armed robbers showed up before the Chiredzi Magistrates’ Court in relation to the July 18, 2024, robbery of a Blue Circle bus. They were named in court as Ashton Siziva (26), Talent Mlaudzi (20), Saul Dadirai (23), and Pheneas Shumba (25).
According to the State’s argument, on July 17, 2024, the accused traveled from Beitbridge to Harare with the help of an accomplice who is presently at large, Elphase Mugudubudze. At the Vilivili bus stop, they departed Mugudubudze.
The accused left Harare at the Mbudzi bus terminal and boarded a Blue Circle bus to Beitbridge.
Pheneas Shumba, the fourth accused, approached the bus conductor on July 18, 2024, at around 4:00 AM, and asked to get off at the Vilivili bus stop.
ALSO READ : US Rapper Rich Homie Quan Dies, Family Shares Heartbreaking Details of His Last Hours
Mugudubudze entered the bus after it had stopped and threatened the driver with a C75 9mm pistol. The other suspects threatened the passengers at the same time while brandishing okapi knives.
The bus’s driver was given instructions by the criminals to drive it to a remote location where they shut off the lights and engine.
The passengers were then ordered to give over their possessions. The suspects left the scene once they had committed the act.
After the police were notified of the occurrence, further inquiries resulted in the four suspects’ detention.
Siziva, the first accused, entered a guilty plea to 37 counts of robbery during the court proceedings. He was given a 12-year sentence for each of the first six crimes, and another 12-year sentence for seven counts.
The sentences for counts seven to thirty-seven will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 84 years.
Co-accused Mlaudzi, Dadirai, and Shumba are scheduled to return to court on September 11 for the continuation of their trial.
ALSO READ : Employee Steals US$100,000 from a Firm