Police identify more ZB US$2,7m heist mastermind’s...

Police identify more ZB US$2,7m heist mastermind’s property

Zim Now Writer

Two houses and two vehicles bought by Shadreck Jowa, the suspected mastermind in the ZB US$2,7million heist, from his share of the loot have been identified and seized by police, pending finalization of the case.

Jowa appeared in court last week and was remanded to October 31 for trial.

He has to apply for bail at the High Court given the gravity of the alleged offence.

Jowa bought two houses in Stoneridge Park and two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace and a Toyota Wish, using part of the money from the heist, according to sources close to the investigations.

Police are still investigating and in the process of checking other properties and cars that they believe Jowa could have bought.

Jowa (55) is alleged to have masterminded the robbery of US$2,7 million and $43 000, which occurred last year at Gwebi River Bridge along the Harare-Chirundu Road.

He recently appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere while his co-accused are expected to appear in court on October 31 for trial.

Jowa’s wife and adult children also appeared in court last week on charges of sheltering a known suspect in a criminal case and were remanded in custody.

CID Homicide received information last week that Jowa, who had initially fled to South Africa after allegedly committing the crime, was at Willowvale Flats in Highfield.

The detectives went round and arrested him. In the wake of the theft, the police have been rounding up the suspected gang members who include, Fanuel Musakwa (34), Gerald Rutizirira (36), Kelvin Musakwa (25), Tendai Zuze (35), Neverson Mwamwuka (35), Trymore Chapfika, Tozivepi Chirara (28), Terrence Matimba (28), Dennis Madondo (30) and Tatenda Gadzikwa (39) in connection with the case.

One of the suspects, Charles Chirara (30), was shot dead while committing another robbery at Joseph Nemaisa’s residence in Chadcombe, Harare, while on bail.

Fanuel Musakwa, Rutizirira, Kelvin Musakwa and Matimba were also arrested, but are now on the run after skipping bail granted by the High Court.

So far US$693 026 and $ 1 410 of the cash has been recovered, and besides Jowa’s two houses and two vehicles, another 14 vehicles worth US$129 900, three other houses valued at US$115 000 have been recovered, a total of US$937 926 before the latest seizures.

Police have also recovered the two firearms used in the commission of the crime.

Investigations have also shown evidence of communication between Jowa and his accomplices before and during the commission of the offence.

There is evidence that Jowa – who was implicated by his accomplices as having participated in the commission of the cfrime – was at, or around the crime scene in Nyabira when the heist was pulled, a suspicious development given that he stays in Highfield, Harare.

The accused dug a pit at his yard and buried the cash to conceal the offence. Cash amounting to US$20 500 linked to the robbery was recovered hidden at his rural house in Mudakwenda Village, Chief Mushava, Mamina, soon after the offence.

Circumstances are that on January 6, 2021 at around 11.30am, Jowa and his accomplices who are already on remand together with others who jumped bail or who have yet to be arrested, staged a robbery of a cash-in-transit van carrying seven boxes laden with cash amounting to US$2 775 000 and $43 090.

This cash was to be ferried to ZB branches; Chinhoyi US$75 000, Kadoma US$25 000, Kwekwe and Gweru US$150 000 each, Bulawayo US$200 000, Gwanda US$50 000 and Zvishavane US$100 000.

They were travelling in a Toyota Hilux single cab with a canopy, secured with a tracker and emergency panic button. Initial allegations given in court were that the three hatched a plan to steal the money and connived with six others.

It is alleged that Jonga, Simango and Musakwa picked three unknown suspects at the Westgate roundabout in Harare and drove to the Inkomo tollgate where they collected a box containing $43 090, which was supposed to be deposited at the bank, and then picked up three more men at Inkomo Barracks turn-off as they drove towards Chinhoyi.

Jonga stopped the vehicle upon reaching the 60km peg and a fake robbery was staged.

It is further alleged that an Isuzu twin-cab immediately arrived at the scene with people who were armed with pistols.

Jonga, Simango and Musakwa surrendered their pistol and rifle before driving their Toyota Hilux for about 900 metres where the gang offloaded the cash boxes into the Isuzu which then drove off.