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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A MAN from Beitbridge, who with two others, robbed taxi drivers using a pellet gun, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Lee Roy Muleya (23) teamed up with Pathutshedzo Emma Nguluvhe (25) and Fanuel Bako to unleash a reign of terror on taxi drivers.

Bako is on the run.

Muleya pleaded guilty to three charges of armed robbery when he appeared before Western Division regional magistrate, Mr Tranos Utawashe during a circuit court on Saturday.

Nguluvhe pleaded not guilty and the magistrate remanded him in custody to August 5.

Mr Utawashe sentenced Muleya to 18 years and conditionally suspended four years for five years, leaving Muleya with an effective 14 year jail sentence.

Prosecuting, Mr Penson Chekeya told the court that on June 23 this year the trio was armed with a Macoy pellet pistol.

He said they hired one Naison Mubaiwa, a taxi driver, and directed him to a lodge along the Beitbridge-Bulawayo road.

Mr Chekeya said along the way, the three pulled out the gun and robbed Mubaiwa of $18.

After the crime, said the prosecutor, they hired Shingirayi Magorimbo and requested for his phone number on the understanding that he would pick them later from a local hotel.

The court heard that later that day, the trio called Magorimbo using one of their cellphones.

Mr Chekeya said the complainant went to pick the trio with his wife.

“They told him to leave his wife at the hotel and robbed him of his car, $20, R120 and two mobile phones at gun point as soon as they left the hotel,” said Mr Chekeya.

He said the trio drove the car to Lutumba business centre where they dumped it.

Mr Chekeya said the trio used the same modus operandi on July 6 when they pounced on Shepherd Zira and stole R35 before driving away in his Toyota Raum.

They later dumped the car along Beitbridge-Masvingo road.

The court heard detectives tracked down Muleya and Nguluvhe through the phone they had used to call Magorimbo.

Police recovered the Macoy pistol from Muleya at his house in Dulivhadzimu Suburb.