Lisa Mlambo
Two Mozambican carjackers who stole two vehicles in South Africa last year were recently nabbed in Zimbabwe during a joint operation by the local security forces along the Chucuala cuala border.
The duo was arraigned before Chiredzi regional Magistrate Judith Zuyu after being found in possession of two Toyota Hilux vehicles stolen in South Africa and have been remanded the in custody to November 26 2021 for sentencing.
The duo Macie Doingos Lucas (59) and Sergio Lourenco Mazive (33) were found in possession of the two vehicles belonging to Lance Landor Gerald Saint Leger Abrahams (56) and Nabtanu Beyene Lambay (32) of Johannesburg, South Africa
The state represented by Arnold Kwangwari alleged that between October 26 and 29, 2020 at around 0900hours, the first complainant Abrahams who resides at number 8 Hinsbeeck Avenue Florida Park, South Africa parked his car, a white Toyota Hilux Double Cab inside Old Mutual Building parking space with all windows closed and doors locked and went to attend court session.
The accused persons approached the parked motor vehicle and forcibly opened the motor vehicle and drove it away unnoticed.
When the complainant returned to the car park at around 1200hrs on the same day, he discovered that the vehicle was missing.
He noticed some broken glasses on the ground where the vehicle was parked and made a report at Pretoria Central Police Station.
Interpol Pretoria was advised and the vehicle was carded under Interpol National Central Bureau Pretoria number 2919641.
On the second occasion, on October 27, 2020, the second complainant Nabtau Beyene Lambay of Unit 12 Bedford Gardens Kerbeky road Johannesburg, South Africa parked his silver Toyota Hilux Double Cab with registration number, chassis number ANTHA3CD103425700 at corner Justice Mohamed and Roper Brooklyn opposite Ethiopian Embassy in South Africa. The complainant closed all windows and locked the doors as he went into the embassy.
The accused persons used the same modus operandi and drove away unnoticed
The complainant returned around 1140hrs and discovered that the vehicle was missing before reporting at Brooklyn police station and the vehicle was carded under Interpol National Central Bureau Pretoria number 2919850.
On October 29, 2020, the accused persons parked the stolen cars in the bush around Puzani area Zimbabwe. They were spotted by a team of police officers and members of Zimbabwe National Army on anti-smuggling patrol duties.
Seeing that they were spotted they drove off towards a dead-end road.
Accused person number one was driving a white Toyota Hilux Double Cab applied emergency brakes upon reaching the dead end and accused number two who was driving another vehicle ramming behind the leading vehicle.
The patrol team then managed to arrest the accused persons and handed them to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Chiredzi.
Detectives from C.I.D Chiredzi then checked with Interpol NCB Database and discovered that the vehicles were stolen in South Africa
