Zim GBC News | Crimes and Courts
PLUMTREE – A 47-year-old officer from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) stationed at Plumtree has appeared in court accused of orchestrating the escape of a convicted rapist by supplying him with hacksaw blades.
Yusufu Yusufu appeared before Magistrate Joshua Nembaware facing charges of aiding an inmate to escape. He was granted bail in the sum of US$100, and the matter is set to continue in the courts.
The State, led by prosecutor Sheila Nyathi, alleges that the incident occurred last year and involved inmate Cabangani Mathe, who was serving a 20-year sentence for rape at Plumtree Prison.
According to court documents, Yusufu and Mathe allegedly conspired to facilitate the escape. It is claimed that Yusufu provided Mathe with two hacksaw blades and instructed him to cut through the burglar bars of his cell window.
The court heard that Mathe meticulously carried out the plan over five days, cutting through three metal bars while disguising the noise and activity as routine cell cleaning.
“The accused person, in violation of his oath of office, is alleged to have conspired with the inmate and supplied the tools necessary for the escape,” prosecutor Sheila Nyathi told the court.
The daring escape was successfully executed in the early hours of 15 November last year.
“Between 1am and 2am, the inmate completed cutting the final bars and escaped from the holding cell,” the court was told.
“He left the hacksaw blades and the severed metal pieces inside the cell as evidence.”
The matter is still before the courts.
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