Armed robber Musa Taj Abdul and accomplices senten...

Armed robber Musa Taj Abdul and accomplices sentenced to 38 years in prison each

Michael Mashiri

Infamous robbers Musa Taj Abdul, Charles Lundu and Sean Andile Dhlamini, who are in custody for other earlier judgements, have been sentenced to 38 years imprisonment effectively.

Abdul and his accomplices appeared before magistrate Ignatio Mhene at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts. The three were convicted last year in December.

The State, represented by prosecutor Kelvin Munyimi, was alleging that Abdul was facing 13 counts, which gave him an accumulated 52 years’ total imprisonment.

Eight years were suspended for five years ok condition that they do not within that period commit an offence involving violence on someone’s body.

Four more years were suspended on condition of restitution on or before March 30.

Abdul and his accomplices have been known for committing a spate of armed robberies in the country.

Munyimi submitted that the three convicts committed a serious offence using dangerous weapons that left the complainants traumatised hence should be given a 10-year jail for each count.

“The accused did not commit only one count of robbery but 13 which makes them dangerous criminals. In all the counts, the complainants did not recover their property and are finding it hard to replace them due to the economic hardships.

“They are now living in fear. The State prays that they be sent to prison for a long time. May they be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years for each count.”

Defence council of the accused persons, Tamutsa Muzana, in mitigation, prayed that the court should take into consideration the accused continued stay in remand prison and treat all the offences as one for purposes of sentencing.

“Their families and businesses have suffered. Sentencing is designed to punish the accused and that has already been done. They already know that crime does not pay. That crime leads to suffering. Sentencing is also premised on rehabilitation.

“The accused have learnt their lessons and they are determined to live a crime-free life. In as much as we have been given 13 counts, one can see that this is one continuous crime, both in nature and execution. We do pray that the 13 counts be bundled into one count for the purpose of sentencing so that they run concurrently,” he said.

He added that if they are given a lengthy custodial sentence, they will come out in coffins and we will never know if they were rehabilitated.

The State highlighted that the trio in July 2020 used threats of immediate violence on Lyle Leonard Wilson while armed with a short gun, pistols, hammer and iron bars and took away US$1 656 cash, perfumes, cell phones and a wide range of other property.

The looted property in just this one case included a Sony Ericson cell phone, Nokia cell phone, Samsung A10 cell phone, Huawei Y9 cell phone, 1xMillion bottle of perfume, 1xMontblanc bottle of perfume, IxJimmychoo bottle of perfume, 2xBvlgari bottles of perfume, 1xObssession by Calvin Klien bottle of perfume, 1xBeverly Hills bottle of perfume, 1xSecretsunset bottle of perfume, play station 4, play station pads, HP Notebook laptop, gold bracelet inscribed SHELBIE, i-Phone 11 Promax cell phone, brown and red handbag inscribed GUESS, eye glasses, pair of Rayban sunglasses, 1xNarcisso Rodrigues bottle of perfume, Huawei P9 cell phone, i-Phone 65 cell phone, Zimbabwean passport and National Identity card and an orange kit bag.

On the other 12 counts, the court heard that on July 25, 2020 and at Trauma Centre along Borrowdale Lane, the three armed themselves with a shot gun, pistols, hammer and iron bars and robbed 12 individuals of cellphones and laptops.

The complainants are Todoka Wilbert, Simon Machemedze, Jerifanos Fana, Faith Chatikobo, Stewart Vengayi, Pamela Isaac, Juliana Tsikidzi, Elita Sakala, Grace Manjengwa, Dorcas Ephraim and Cheryl Masvosva.

Total value prejudiced was US$3 475.