Sibonginkosi
Sibanda,
49,
who
works
for
Safeguard
Security
and
lives
in
Cowdray
Park,
had
initially
been
charged
with
armed
robbery
over
the
2024
raid
on
Ecobank’s
Bulawayo
branch.
However,
prosecutors
have
now
dropped
the
charge
and
replaced
it
with
one
of
money
laundering.
Sibanda
appeared
before
Bulawayo
magistrate
Matthew
Mutiro
on
Friday,
where
he
pleaded
not
guilty
to
the
new
charge.
He
was
remanded
in
custody
until
7
July,
when
a
ruling
on
his
bail
application
is
expected.
The
dramatic
reversal
has
cast
doubt
over
the
credibility
of
the
police
investigation,
which
Sibanda’s
lawyer,
Prince
Butshe,
described
as
“a
reckless
operation
based
entirely
on
speculation.”
“There
was
never
a
credible
link
between
my
client
and
the
robbery,”
said
Butshe.
“When
the
case
started
to
fall
apart,
the
state
changed
the
charge
in
an
attempt
to
save
face.”
The
new
charge
stems
from
anonymous
tips
police
received
in
June,
alleging
that
Sibanda
was
involved
in
illicit
dealings
at
his
workplace.
A
lifestyle
audit
followed,
leading
to
the
discovery
of
assets
allegedly
inconsistent
with
his
known
income.
Prosecutor
Constance
Ncube
told
the
court
that
Sibanda
owns
several
properties,
including
a
six-roomed
house
in
Cowdray
Park
and
two
additional
homes
registered
under
his
daughters’
names.
He
also
reportedly
purchased
a
truck
and
a
Honda
Fit
vehicle,
both
registered
in
his
wife’s
name,
as
well
as
a
homestead
in
Insiza.
He
is
also
listed
as
a
co-director
of
a
private
company
alongside
his
wife
and
daughter.
During
cross-examination,
lead
investigator
Detective
Tawedzerwa
Shiriyapenga
confirmed
that
there
was
no
longer
any
link
between
Sibanda
and
the
armed
robbery.
“The
robbery
case
is
separate
and
still
under
investigation,”
he
said.
“The
accused
is
currently
facing
a
money
laundering
charge
based
on
information
received
from
tip-offs
and
subsequent
financial
investigations.”
However,
Butshe
challenged
the
officer’s
version,
pointing
to
an
affidavit
that
stated
Sibanda
was
initially
picked
up
by
police
for
questioning
over
the
Ecobank
robbery.
It
was
during
those
interviews,
the
affidavit
claims,
that
suspicions
around
his
financial
dealings
first
emerged.
“You
are
misleading
the
court,”
Butshe
said.
“The
police
only
changed
the
charge
after
realising
they
had
no
evidence
to
support
the
original
robbery
allegation.
This
is
a
cover-up
for
a
flawed
investigation.”
Butshe
also
questioned
whether
Shiriyapenga
had
the
training
or
authority
to
investigate
financial
crimes,
arguing
that
such
cases
should
be
handled
by
specialist
units
within
the
police
force.
The
bail
ruling
is
expected
on
Monday.