The four men arrested for allegedly stealing Grace Mugabe’s property from her Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale, Harare, yesterday told the court that they were gifted the items by the former First Lady.
Two of the four suspects made the claims when they appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa during their bail application.
Allen Chinamonya (42), Danmore Chinamonya (35), Samson Karonga and Brighton Bunganirwa (46), who were employed by Mugabe, were arrested after they allegedly stole household property including cutlery worth more than US$500 000 from her mansion.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti opposed their bail application.
Mutsokoti led evidence from Seargent Oliver Guta, the investigating officer, who told the court that the suspects committed the crime as a syndicate and some of their accomplices were still at large.
He also submitted that releasing the four would jeopardise investigations as some of the property was still to be recovered.
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The court also heard that, one of the accused Brighton Muwunganirwa was convicted of the same offence in 2022 and was fined ZWL$30 000.
Mutsokoti also argued that the suspects are likely to get custodial sentences hence chances are high that they will abscond if granted bail.
However, Allen and Danmore Chinamonya, in their plea of not guilty, argued that they did not steal but were gifted the property by the former First Lady.
Karonga also argued that he was not at flight risk because he resided at Mugabe’s place of residency.
The four were asked to return to court tomorrow for bail ruling.
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