An armed robbery suspect shot on his rib cage by security guards during a robbery in Waterfalls, Harare, walked into a police station and lied that he had been attacked by four men, a court heard on Wednesday.
Godfrey Magadu, 31, of Chemhondoro in Murewa, had failed to nurse his wound and hospitals had turned him away as they required a letter from the police, said prosecutors.
Using the false name Franklyin Mubaiwa, Magadu went to a police station in Southlea Park and claimed that he had been attacked by four men in Hopely who ran off after shooting him.
Sergeant Luke Deza, who attended to him, bought into his tale and gave him a request for medical treatment form before sending him to Sally Mugabe Hospital for treatment. He was later referred to Parirenyatwa Hospital.
On October 23, officers investigating the robbery at Chemical Merchants Company linked Magadu to the crime leading to his arrest.
Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa remanded him in custody from his hospital bed.
He is facing charges of armed robbery and deliberately supplying false information to a public official.
The National Prosecuting Authority is alleging that Magadu and his accomplices, who were armed with three shotguns, broke into Chemical Merchants Company in Waterfalls and attempted to rob the store.
They allegedly confronted security guards Given Nyakarare and Samson Mupandawana who are employed by Gurus Security Company. The two were armed with a revolver.
“Magadu and his accomplices manhandled one of the security guards, Mupandawana and force-marched him into one of the offices. They assaulted him whilst demanding to know where cash and valuables were kept. Mupandawana bolted and hid behind the offices,” the prosecution says.
“Magadu and his accomplices then observed Nyakarare walking outside and went to confront him. Nyakarare fired two shots towards the robbers who were approaching him.”
One of the armed robbers was grazed on the forehead by a bullet whilst Magadu sustained a gunshot wound to the rib-cage but managed to escape with the others.
The robbers allegedly dropped one gun before dragging Magadu away, only to dump him about a kilometre from the scene and run off.
After failing to bear the pain, Magadu went to the police with a concocted story that he was a victim. ZimLive
