CID forced me to admit to crime: Suspect Blessmore Mutero
Blessmore Mutero

Blessmore Mutero

Angeline Mpofu Court Reporter
A SUSPECTED armed robber yesterday told a Bulawayo magistrate that detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) routinely murdered serial armed robbers.
Blessmore Mutero, 32, from Chegutu appeared before Crispen Mberewere at the Tredgold Magistrates Court facing armed robbery charges after he allegedly used threats of violence against Caroline Pouf and Evelyn Padya to force them to relinquish control of property belonging to Dumisani Kodzai.

Mutero, who pleaded not guilty, is alleged to have been in the company of Evans Sibanda who was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment for committing the offence.
“The detectives at the CID compelled me to admit committing the crime at gunpoint and I had no choice but to admit that I committed the robbery,” he said.

Mutero accused the detectives of threatening him with death for denying the crime.
“They showed me several pictures of armed robbers who they said they had shot dead for denying their crimes. They plotted the whole crime and forced me to admit committing the crimes,” he said.

Prosecuting, Masimba Saruwaka said on December 8 at around 6PM, the two accused persons, who were armed with a machete, entered Fair and Square Investments situated at Compensation House in Bulawayo and ordered Mpofu and Padya to lie on the floor.

“The two grabbed property including cellphones and money worth $5,000 and R1,800 from the drawer and cardboard box before fleeing the scene.”
He said on February 9 this year, Sibanda was arrested by detectives from CID in Chegutu after committing a similar crime at a complex in the town.

“Upon interrogation, it came to light that he had earlier committed another robbery in Bulawayo. He led the detectives to Mutero and they recovered part of the stolen goods on his rooftop in Chegutu,” said the prosecutor.

Total value of stolen goods was $20,572 and goods worth $7,157 were recovered.
Regional magistrate Mberewere remanded Mutero in custody for continuation of trial.

You Might Also Like

Comments