Four Foreign Nationals Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Gold Robbery in Zimbabwe

Four foreigners from China, Singapore, and Sierra Leone were charged in Harare with conspiracy to commit robbery targeting a gold smuggler. Their plot was foiled by local resident Matsikete alerting authorities, leading to their arrest and the recovery of gold. They are scheduled to return to court on March 18.

In Harare, four foreign nationals, comprising individuals from China, Singapore, and Sierra Leone, were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. They allegedly plotted to rob a Chinese smuggler transporting four kilograms of gold to Zambia. The defendants, Gohga Kan from Singapore, Wu Ke Wen from China, and Sierra Leoneans Aruna Saidu and Foday Kamara, made a brief court appearance where they were advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on February 27, 2025, Kan approached local resident Ozias Matsikete, outlining his plan to rob a vehicle traveling to Zambia through the Chirundu Border Post. Kan claimed to own two pistols and sought Matsikete’s assistance in finding accomplices. Matsikete alerted the CID Homicide detectives about the plot.

On March 1, Kan instructed Matsikete to organize a meeting with the chosen accomplices in Karoi to identify a suitable place for the robbery, favoring the area due to its closeness to Zambia for transporting the stolen gold. Detectives, disguised as accomplices, participated in the meeting with Kan, revealing their strategy to intercept the planned robbery.

During the initial meeting, Kan indicated the robbery location about 25 kilometers from Karoi, citing the presence of potholes that would impede the target vehicle. A subsequent meeting on March 8 confirmed the robbery was set for March 9, where Kan introduced Matsikete to Saidu and Kamara, asserting that he would supply firearms for the operation.

Detectives orchestrated a comprehensive operation to prevent the robbery. In the early hours of March 9, Kan tipped Matsikete about trailing a vehicle carrying gold, leading detectives to intercept it at Nyabira tollgate. The driver, Joseph Phiri, and his passenger, Liu Wieqiang, were arrested while Kan and Wu were apprehended in a separate vehicle. The search of the Toyota Prado uncovered approximately 4.018 kilograms of gold concealed beneath the car radio, and both Saidu and Kamara were detained with two unregistered firearms. They are expected to appear in court again on March 18.

The article chronicles the orchestration of a gold robbery plot by four foreign nationals and highlights extensive police intervention. The timely alert by local resident Ozias Matsikete led to a successful operation by detectives, resulting in the apprehension of the suspects and the recovery of stolen gold. The matter is scheduled for a return to court on March 18, indicating the continuing legal proceedings against the defendants.

Original Source: www.zimlive.com