Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE recent release of Aluis Luciano, better known as Bla Matsotsi — a Chitungwiza serial and ruthless robber — brought shivers to residents who had felt relieved following his arrest last week.
However, sanity was brought back after Bla Matsotsi was rearrested on Tuesday following robberies that took place in Chitungwiza’s St Mary’s area on October 13 and 14, allegedly committed by him.
It is alleged that on October 13, he and his accomplices, who are still at large, pounced on Obert Chamunorwa (23) at Huruyadzo Shopping Centre in St Mary’s, produced a knife and threatened to stab him before robbing him of US$85.
The case was reported to the police and is being investigated under CR250/10/25.
The next day, Bla Matsotsi is said to have met a heavily pregnant Memory Matanga along Chitungwiza Road in the same neighbourhood.
He called her to the other side of the road where he was standing, to which Matanga refused and continued walking.
Bla Matsotsi is alleged to have followed her, attacked and stabbed her in the palm before he fled from the scene.
Matanga sustained a deep cut and made a police report, under reference CR260/10/25.
Police reacted swiftly after being told by witnesses that it was Bla Matsotsi who had committed the crime.
They had to point a gun at him so they could arrest him.
Bla Matsotsi has since appeared in court, where magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure on Thursday heard that apart from the two cases, he had absconded court on October 13, the day he allegedly robbed Chamunorwa.
Before the latest arrest, Bla Matsotsi had been arrested on October 2 and remanded in custody to October 4 pending investigations into reports that he attacked and threatened to stab his neighbour, Nocry Gahadzikwa, whom he owed money.
He was only released on October 10, but NewsDay Weekender understands that there is no record to the effect that he was granted bail.
During his arrest on October 2, Bla Matsotsi also threatened to stab his mother and brother, as well as assaulted police details who had gone to arrest him.
His mother reportedly reported the matter with the police, but later withdrew the case.
The accused is facing 15 other counts of attempted murder, robbery and assault.
Bla Matsotsi was supposed to appear in court on Monday, but he absconded.
St Mary’s Police has three other pending dockets against Bla Matsotsi, RRB 6618621, RRB 6618626 and RRB 6618551 amounting assault, robbery and attempted murder.
Mashavakure, the magistrate, remanded Bla Matsotsi in custody to October 30.
The State argued that Bla Matsotsi was not a candidate for bail as he had other cases still under investigation and could abscond.
Appearing for the prosecution, Malvin Mwendera argued that the accused faced serious allegations of using dangerous weapons in cases of robbery and that he had also stabbed a complainant.
“Accused stays in the same neighbourhood as his victims and may intimidate them,” the magistrate said in declining bail.
“He has shown a propensity to commit similar offences in future and the courts have an obligation to protect the community from such criminals.”
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