KEY POINTS
- Police say she helped armed robbers escape and hid them.
- A detective exposed their $150 bribe attempt in a sting.
- Authorities fear the suspects could obstruct justice and regroup.
A woman is being sought by Zimbabwean police for allegedly helping to free armed robbers from prison and providing them with sanctuary in her house.
Police alleged woman helped release armed robbers from prison
Theresa Chenjerai, 49, was taken into custody on Thursday on allegations of bribery after reportedly plotting with Munyaradzi Zakkaria, another robbery suspect, to pay a detective $150 to testify on behalf of their colleague. In Norton Magistrates Court, Nickson Tapuwa Mazaranye, the suspect, is charged with fifteen counts of robbery.
Neither Chenjerai nor Zakkaria were required to enter a plea when they appeared before a Norton magistrate on Saturday. They were placed under remand pending a bail hearing on Monday, March 3.
Chenjerai is the wife of Andrew Chenjerai, a suspected armed robber who is currently free on bail after being charged with two violent crimes, according to the police. According to the authorities, she planned his release from jail. On March 11, Andrew Chenjerai is expected to stand for trial before a Harare magistrate.
According to New Zimbabwe, Theresa Chenjerai has been hiding Zakkaria in her house and assisted in getting him released from prison, where he was being detained on two counts of armed robbery. Citing worries that the two are assembling into a criminal group that could use organized crime to destabilize the city, authorities contend the two should be kept in detention.
Because of their alleged effort to bribe a detective, investigators also think the two could obstruct justice.
Authorities claim she is building a dangerous criminal gang
Authorities claim that on February 27, Chenjerai and Zakkaria made Detective Sergeant Kwashira an offer of $150 in exchange for providing positive testimony in Mazaranye’s case. Detective Inspector Ndofirepi, the detective’s superior, was informed of the offer and organized a sting operation to keep an eye on the suspects’ meeting.
After allegedly giving the detective the money, Zakkaria was taken into custody at Norton Police Station. He allegedly admitted during interrogation that Chenjerai had sent him the bribe to get Mazaranye released.
Call logs, according to police, verify that the two were collaborating.
