No Bail For Two US$2,7 million ZB Bank Cash Heist Suspects

By Court Reporter

Two suspects Gerald Rutizira and Neverson Mwamuka in the US$2,7 million ZB Bank cash-in-transit truck heist case, have been denied bail at the High Court.
The court ruled that evidence linking them to the robbery was strong and chances of their conviction was almost certain.
Justice Tawanda Chitapi ruled that the two were not suitable for bail, saying conviction was certain and that the presumption of innocence was not apparent in this case.
In denying Rutizira bail, the court found that he had no plausible defence and had tried to conceal the identity of the car which was used in the crime by repainting it.
“I am of the view that given the seriousness of the offence as shown by the brazen resolve to commit it and planning that went into it, taken together with the first applicant’s admission of involvement and gaining financially therefrom, the release of the first applicant on bail will undermine the objectives of both the criminal justice and bail systems,” said Justice Chitapi.
“The second applicant is a demonstrated flight risk who was caught while in the process of leaving Harare.”
Only US$456 000 has so far been recovered from the US$2,7 million that was stolen from the security company.
Eleven suspects have been arrested in connection with the matter, and have appeared in court.
The money was en-route for distribution to ZB Bank branches in Chinhoyi, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gweru, Gwanda, Zvishavane and Bulawayo.