South East Police Region prosecutor, Inspector Michael Paulino told the court that on the night of 3 January 2023, the three Edward Kachala, 46, Daniel Yohane 30 and a Mozambican, Raphael Francisco 32, allegedly robbed Henry Manyenga of the money, laptop computer, phones and Hilux D4D double cabin vehicle.

Paulino alleged that the three with other accomplices who were armed with Blow F92 auto Barretta pepper pistol, Blow min 9 black gun and panga knives allegedly robbed Manyenga at the lodge in Luchenza municipality.

During cross-examination, one of the defence lawyers, Hanif Aufi punched holes in Manyenga's testimony by among others asking him to provide evidence that the money was his, of which he affirmed to had withdrawn it from a bank in Limbe and that he wanted to pay dairy farmers in the district.

Manyenga who was reportedly with his wife during the incident, further said that the vehicle which suspected robbers to escape the scene and later dumped it at Mikolongwe in Chiradzulu, belonged to him.

However, when lawyer Aufi put it to him to confirm and clarify some details, Manyenga was not sure of his room number at the lodge and contradicted himself on the phone numbers that were in his phones against what he told the police.

After the re-examination by prosecutor Ishmael Abubasit, the defense lawyers, Aufi and Michael Goba Chipeta applied for bail, but Magistrate Maxwell adjourned the matter to 23 June 2023 for bail ruling and hearing of other witnesses.

This is after the state shot down the application on the basis that the accused were a flight risk and would disturb the manhunt for the 'other accomplices' currently at large.

According to Inspector Paulino, the state will parade three more witnesses against the three who were arrested in March this year.