A Bulawayo court has granted bail to three men who were arrested after they were found in possession of 285 kilograms of beef from five cows they allegedly stole at Methodist village in St Peter’s on the outskirts of Pumula.
The trio allegedly stole the beasts and slaughtered them near the Pumula North ZESA substation.
The security guard Nkazimulo Ngwenya (47) of Lobengula West, Micheck Mlambo (45) of Old Lobengula suburb and Chamunorwa Mahachi (48) of Cowdray Park sburb facing a charge of stock theft.
Mahachi who is represented by Jabulani Ndubiwa of Mashayamombe and Associates was granted ZWL$ 7 000 bail while Ngwenya and Mlambo who are represented by Maqhawe Mpofu of Samp Mlaudzi and Partners were granted ZWL$ 5000 and ZWL$ 3000 respectively.
Magistrate Tancy Dube remanded them to March 24 for provisional of a trial date.
In their bail applications, the lawyers stated that the accused persons did not resist arrest when they were intercepted nor have they ever appeared before any court facing any charges.
The lawyers noted that the accused persons should be presumed innocent and have a right to an unconditional release depending on their circumstances.
State representative Samantha Gubede narrated to the court that on February 6, 2021, the trio stole five beasts and slaughtered them.
Gubede said they were intercepted by the police who tried to stop them but they fled.
“On February 6, 2021, the accused persons went to stand number 9123 Methodist Village where they stole five beasts and slaughtered them near Pumula North Zesa substation,” she said.
“The three were later intercepted by police officers who were on patrol but they did not heed to the instructions. The police officers chased after them leading to their arrest. Police recovered beef weighing 252 kilograms.”
