HARARE – Jail escapee Sam Muropa on Thursday told a court that he broke out of Harare Remand Prison with the assistance of some prison officers who had been bribed by his brother.
The 31-year-old, who is facing multiple counts of rape, armed robbery and impersonating an officer, pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko.
He will be sentenced on October 12.
Muropa, of Kuwadzana, was taken to court barefoot and in leg irons.
He pleaded not guilty to a second charge of motor vehicle theft and will go to a full trial.
Muropa was arrested in August and charged with violent crimes after 21 women said they had been robbed and raped after he offered them a lift in a Toyota Wish at various locations around Harare. The crimes allegedly took place between July and August this year.
He was held without bail and sent to Harare Remand Prison.
Muropa escaped from the prison on October 1. Two prison officers are expected in court on Friday to face charges of helping him escape.
He was re-arrested on October 5, police say after he robbed a man of his vehicle – a Toyota Wish.
Complainant Brian Mupotsa told police he was at a bar at Kuwadzana 2 shopping centre at around 7PM when he was approached by Muropa, who requested charge his phone in his vehicle so that he could contact his girlfriend.
Mupotsa allegedly unlocked the vehicle and handed the car keys to Muropa, who took the driver’s seat and suddenly drove off at high speed.
Muropa was cornered by detectives who had a description of the vehicle.
