Bulawayo robbery: South African nationals sentenced and ordered to repay stolen US dollars

Two South African nationals have been sentenced in Zimbabwe after being convicted of an armed robbery at a fuel service station in Bulawayo and ordered by the court to pay back the money stolen during the crime, according to a report by The Herald.

Nonjabulo Wisdom Nyoni and Chrisvision Ncube, both from Johannesburg, were convicted of armed robbery by the Bulawayo Regional Magistrates’ Court following an incident at a fuel station in the Bellevue area of Bulawayo.

The court heard that the two men carried out the robbery while armed with a firearm and in the company of an accomplice who has not yet been arrested. During the incident, fuel station employees were threatened and cash amounting to about US$3,058, along with R550, was stolen. The US dollar amount is equivalent to roughly R50,000.

According to The Herald, the robbery took place in October last year. Police investigations later led to the arrest of Nyoni and Ncube, who were brought before the regional court to face charges of armed robbery.

Both men were sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. The court, however, suspended portions of the sentences on condition of good behaviour and ordered that the stolen money be repaid by the end of August. Failure to comply with the restitution order would result in the suspended portion of the sentence being enforced.

The firearm used during the robbery was forfeited to the state, while the third suspect linked to the case remains at large and is being sought by police.

Zimbabwean authorities have repeatedly warned that violent crimes will be dealt with harshly, regardless of whether offenders are locals or foreign nationals.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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