HARARE – Notorious armed robber Musa Taj Abdul – once described as one of Zimbabwe’s most wanted men – has been granted Z$5,000 bail by the High Court.
Justice Benjamin Chikowero also released Abdul’s co-defendants Godfrey Mupanhanga, 27, and Rudolf Tapiwa Kanhanga, 29, on Z$2,000 bail each.
Abdul was apprehended in Beitbridge in August after 20 years on the run. Police have linked him to up to 53 armed robberies.
As part of his bail conditions, Abdul was ordered by the judge to report to the police every Friday, reside at his St Martins address in Harare and not interfere with state witnesses.
The government swiftly criticised the ruling.
Government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana tweeted: “Some decisions emanating from High Court, Haibo (oh no!).”
The trio were arrested with five others – Charles Lundu, 47, Tapiwa Mangoma, 27, Innocent Jairosi, 32, Prince Makodza, 31, and Liberty Mupamhanga, 29.
The gang is suspected to have committed most of its robberies in Harare. One of the many complainants is Vivek Solanki, the owner of the Trauma Centre in Borrowdale where the gang stole over U$3,000.
On July 24, a month before their arrest, the gang allegedly robbed Lyle Leonard Wilsons of US$1,473 during a raid on his Queensdale home while armed with a shotgun and a pistol.
