ONE of the suspected members of an alleged Zimbabwean gang of bank robbers that staged a series of hold-ups at Standard Bank branches in Namibia earlier this year has escaped from Police custody.
Alleged bank robber Itai Mashamba (31), alias Nox-Vusumuzi Moyo, escaped from custody on July 13, Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu said yesterday. The Namibian Police’s Public Relations and Liaison Division, of which Amulungu is the Commanding Officer, was informed of Mashamba’s escape only yesterday, Amulungu said.Mashamba’s escape also appeared to come as a surprise to Public Prosecutor Nuncia Sikongo when Mashamba’s co-accused in the robbery case that they are facing in Windhoek made their second joint appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.With Mashamba absent from the dock, Sikongo could only brief Magistrate Sarel Jacobs about his reported escape after a Police officer in court had whispered the information to her.According to Amulungu, Mashamba escaped from the tuberculosis treatment wing of the Katutura State Hospital.It is suspected that someone wearing a Police Sergeant’s uniform had aided him to carry out the escape, by collecting him at the unit with a claim that he was needed for further investigations, Amulungu said.In Mashamba’s absence, the case against his co-accused – Zimbabwean nationals Bakani Dube, Mthulishi Sibanda and Plan Ndebele, also known as Kholuwane – was postponed to December 12 for further investigation.The men are charged with a count of robbery with aggravating circumstances in connection with an alleged robbery at the Klein Windhoek branch of Standard Bank Namibia on March 9.It is alleged that about N$197 000 was stolen during that robbery.Dube was arrested on March 19.On April 23, armed robbers again hit a Standard Bank branch, this time at Okahandja, making off with some N$218 000.The Police reported at the time that some N$59 000 suspected to have been part of the stolen money was recovered when a 21-year-old Zimbabwean was arrested shortly after the robbery.Mashamba, Sibanda, Ndebele and another three suspects were arrested following another heist at the Gobabis branch of Standard Bank Namibia on May 22.Cash amounting to some N$202 000 was stolen during that alleged robbery.Of this, just over N$174 000 was recovered upon the suspects’ arrest, it is claimed.Sibanda and Ndebele have also been charged in connection with both the Okahandja and Gobabis robberies.Magistrate Jacobs ordered yesterday that they and Dube should be kept in custody until their next court appearance.The Namibian Police’s Public Relations and Liaison Division, of which Amulungu is the Commanding Officer, was informed of Mashamba’s escape only yesterday, Amulungu said.Mashamba’s escape also appeared to come as a surprise to Public Prosecutor Nuncia Sikongo when Mashamba’s co-accused in the robbery case that they are facing in Windhoek made their second joint appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.With Mashamba absent from the dock, Sikongo could only brief Magistrate Sarel Jacobs about his reported escape after a Police officer in court had whispered the information to her.According to Amulungu, Mashamba escaped from the tuberculosis treatment wing of the Katutura State Hospital.It is suspected that someone wearing a Police Sergeant’s uniform had aided him to carry out the escape, by collecting him at the unit with a claim that he was needed for further investigations, Amulungu said. In Mashamba’s absence, the case against his co-accused – Zimbabwean nationals Bakani Dube, Mthulishi Sibanda and Plan Ndebele, also known as Kholuwane – was postponed to December 12 for further investigation.The men are charged with a count of robbery with aggravating circumstances in connection with an alleged robbery at the Klein Windhoek branch of Standard Bank Namibia on March 9.It is alleged that about N$197 000 was stolen during that robbery.Dube was arrested on March 19.On April 23, armed robbers again hit a Standard Bank branch, this time at Okahandja, making off with some N$218 000.The Police reported at the time that some N$59 000 suspected to have been part of the stolen money was recovered when a 21-year-old Zimbabwean was arrested shortly after the robbery.Mashamba, Sibanda, Ndebele and another three suspects were arrested following another heist at the Gobabis branch of Standard Bank Namibia on May 22.Cash amounting to some N$202 000 was stolen during that alleged robbery.Of this, just over N$174 000 was recovered upon the suspects’ arrest, it is claimed.Sibanda and Ndebele have also been charged in connection with both the Okahandja and Gobabis robberies.Magistrate Jacobs ordered yesterday that they and Dube should be kept in custody until their next court appearance.
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