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Nyaradzo Bakari, Chronicle Reporter
A 20-YEAR-OLD man and four teenagers from Bulawayo have been arrested for allegedly robbing a woman at knife point in Hillside suburb.

Arnold Ndlovu and four teenagers aged between 15 and 18, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi facing robbery charges.

Three of them, Ndlovu and two teenagers, one of them a Cyrene Mission High School pupil, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to two months in jail which was wholly suspended for two years on condition that they do not commit a similar crime during that period.

The other two teenagers were acquitted.

“In sentencing, the court considers that you are youthful offenders who still have a chance to reform. The property stolen was recovered. However, we cannot run away from the fact that robbery is a very serious offence. We never know what would have happened had the victim resisted; chances are that you could have used the knife and hurt her,” said Mr Mkhwananzi before sentence.

“You will be sentenced to two months in prison, which is suspended on condition that you do not commit a similar crime within the given period.”

Prosecuting, Mr Mclean Ndlovu said the gang robbed Ms Priscilla Mutekwa on Sunday at around 8.30 PM as she was walking home from work.

“On December 24 at around 8.30PM, the complainant disembarked from a Honda fit at Weir and Burnside Road from work in town. When she reached an intersection at corner Davon and Weir road, she saw five accused persons walking slowly towards the same direction. When the complainant was about to pass the accused persons, accused one (Arnold) produced a screwdriver whilst accused two (18) produced an okapi knife before ordering her to surrender her belongings to them,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said they took her handbag, which had $17, R100, two phones, a Bible and a cooler bag.

The prosecutor said Ms Mutekwa was saved by a Hillside resident, Mr Rocky Rochat, who rushed to the scene after hearing her screams. Mr Rochat apprehended Ndlovu and took him to the police station while the other four fled but were later arrested.

Mr Ndlovu said the stolen property was recovered. —@NyarieBakie