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 Two Harare robbers who pounced on unsuspecting illegal foreign currency dealers pausing as police officers on separate occasions have changed their plea from guilty to not guilty after seeking legal counsel.
Letwin Maliselo and Michael Hovhiyo Nyakwina who had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery when they appeared before Regional Magistrate Mrs. Esthere Chivasa and were supposed to be sentenced this Thursday have now changed their plea to not guilty.
According to State Prosecutor, Mr. Michael Reza, the two were arrested for impersonating police officers and pouncing on illegal foreign currency dealers in the capital.
On the 14th of May the two robbers who were driving a Toyota sedan are said to have followed Tariro Rukure who had boarded a commuter omnibus.
Soon after the victim disembarked at a bus stop, the two accused him of dealing in drugs and handcuffed him and robbed him of 50 000 rand before dumping him in Glen View.
It also emerged that the duo had used the same mode of operation to rob Richard Muza of Kuwadzana on the 2nd of May as soon as he disembarked from a commuter omnibus.
The state alleges that the robbers were driving a BMW vehicle and misled him into believing they were taking him to Southerton Police Station for questioning.
Musa is said to have sensed danger whilst aboard the robbers’ vehicle and threw US$10 000 through the window.
The robbers are said to have stopped the vehicle to pick up the money after which they assaulted him and dumped him in Warren Park.
Following the change of plea, the matter has now been postponed to the 31st of May 2012 for a complete trial.
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