Chinese Couple Robbed of US$37,000 by Trusted Guard

The guards charged with the crime (image source)

A Harare security guard has been remanded in custody after allegedly masterminding an armed robbery against his employers, a Chinese couple, in which they lost US$37,000 in cash and valuables.

According to court records, the incident occurred on the night of August 23 when Shaolin Chen and his wife returned home in a white Toyota Prado. Upon entering their Harare residence, they were ambushed by the guard, Brian Kambarami (43), and his accomplice Tinashe Muguti (38).

The pair, wearing balaclavas and armed with pistols, swiftly attacked the couple. They took a white handbag containing US$32,000, a Samsung Galaxy phone, car keys, and casino clips valued at US$5,000. The victims immediately reported the robbery at ZRP Mbare, where police reviewed CCTV footage. The recordings revealed Kambarami as one of the attackers, shocking the couple who had trusted him as their security guard.

During interrogation, Kambarami confessed to orchestrating the robbery with Muguti and other unidentified accomplices who are still at large. Police recovered US$800 from Kambarami’s residence and US$840 from Muguti, believed to be their respective shares of the loot.

Both suspects appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa. They were remanded in custody until September 15, with instructions to apply for bail at the High Court if they wished to seek release.