Source: Cop up for selling stolen guns to poachers – DailyNews Live
Tarisai Machakaire 20 September 2017
HARARE – A cop reportedly sold guns stolen from his workplace to illegal
poachers, a court heard yesterday.
Alouis Mabika, 46, who is attached to National Armoury at Morris Depot in
Harare appeared before provincial magistrate Elisha Singano charged with
theft. He was released on $200 bail and remanded to October 12 pending
finalisation of investigations.
Prosecutor Tatenda Murindagomo had opposed bail on the basis that more
guns could not be accounted for and were still to be recovered.
She submitted that since Mabika was well versed with the legal system,
there was a possibility that he could interfere with investigations if
released on bail.
However, his lawyer Tungamirai Muganhiri argued that the State had failed
to proffer cogent reasons justifying his client’s bail denial.
“The allegations before the court are based on an implication and there
are no eye witnesses to substantiate the claims. The accused person is
still presumed innocent until proven guilty and for the 18 years he served
in the force, he has had no single blemish.
Between 2009 and 2016, Mabika was attached to National Amoury as a stores
man and allegedly hatched a plan to steal fire arms.
The court heard that Mabika allegedly stole an AK47 serial numbers 1976
with live rounds of ammunition, 3,75 rifle, 30,06 rifle, two 7,9 and FN
rifles and a 303 rifle.
Mabika allegedly sold the guns to Obiat Shumba, a Gokwe-based poacher. One
of the guns was recovered from Stanley Musukuma.
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