Bogus soldier jailed for robbery

By Blessing Masakadza

A 20 year-old man who robbed people while passing himself off as a soldier has been jailed for six months. Chrispen Gondo had initially been handed a one year jail term before the court set aside three months for five years on condition of good behaviour within that period.

Another three months was set aside on condition that he restitutes the complainant US$112 leaving Chrispen to serve six months in prison. The court also slapped him with a US$120 fine or 30 days in jail for unlawfully wearing the camouflage.

The State led by prosecutor Rashworth Mufakose proved that on July 3 around 11pm, at Copa Cabana rank Jefrey Phiri (28) was approached by Chrispen and his accomplice who is still at large.

Using the camouflage they were wearing, Chrispen and his accomplice then told Jefrey that they were soldiers and they told him that he had bumped into one of them.

Jefrey tried to apologise to Chrispen and his partner but the two failed to heed the plea, and they forcibly dragged him towards the Magaba Flyover.

When the gang got there, one of them grabbed Jefrey on the neck while the other took away Jefrey’s cell phone a Nokia 6303 and US$70, before they vanished.

Fate however had i that on July 8 at the corner of Robert Mugabe Road and Leopold Takawira Street, Jefrey met Chrispen who was again putting on a camouflage. Jefrey then alerted some army officers who then assisted him to apprehend Chrispen.

Investigations then revealed that he was not just a robber but he was also not a soldier. H Metro