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Peter Matika, [email protected]

TWO of the four suspected copper cable thieves comprising a husband and wife duet, who were found in possession of stolen cables worth US$131 000 at a rented house in Bulawayo’s Mahatshula suburb have been granted bail.

Alan Mudjiwa (28) and Hebron Chiyangwa (27) were granted bail on grounds that they are not directly linked to the crime, while husband and wife Tapfumaneyi Muzarabani (48) who was convicted of a similar offence in Plumtree in 2014 and Tracy Ncube (46), will however continue languishing in remand prison pending trial.

Mudjiwa and Chiyangwa were granted bail on condition they do not interfere with investigations, reside at their given addresses and report to the police once a week.

The gang appeared before Bulawayo Magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza and is facing four counts of copper possession, as defined in the copper control laws.

They are facing four counts, which were presented by Ms Siphiwe Mhlanga on behalf of the State.

For the first count, they are being charged for possessing copper without a licence or permit. On the second count, they are facing charges of possessing material used for transmitting, distributing and supplying electricity.

For the third count, they are charged with possessing material used for the provision of railway services and on the fourth charge, they are accused of illegally possessing material used for telecommunication.

Ms Mhlanga said on March 16, detectives from CID Homicide responded to a tip-off that the gang was using the house to store copper cables.

“The detectives proceeded to the house rented by accused one and two, where they carried out surveillance monitoring movements and activities at the house. Accused one and two, who are husband and wife, arrived home from the Central Business District. The detectives then introduced themselves as police detectives and requested to search the yard and house,” she said.

Ms Mhlanga said after searching the house, police discovered an assortment of copper comprising overhead conductors, transformer copper bars, armoured cables, scrap copper from electric motor rewinds and two digital scales, which were found in two separate rooms.

Muzarabani and his wife are being represented by Ms Anna Kunda of Dube and Associates, while Mudjiwa is being represented by Miss Nonhlanhla Sibanda of Advocate SKM Sibanda and Partners. Chiyangwa is also being represented by his attorney, Mr Liberty Mcijo of Liberty Mcijo and Associates.

The syndicate was arrested last Month in the suburb, by a crack CID Homicide team, following a meticulous two-week surveillance operation. The gang was found in possession of copper belonging to different companies, all holding different values.