JOHANNESBURG - The former Zimbabwe international goalkeeper who was facing up to 15 years in prison in South Africa is now a free man. The Johannesburg High Court on Monday dropped the armed robbery charges laid against the minor, citing insufficient evidence.The youth, whose name The Zimbabwean upholds to protect his identity, had always maintained his innocence saying he was a victim of mistaken identity.
It was alleged that the youth was armed with a knife when he robbed a woman of her mobile phone in Hillbrow, Johannesburg in August. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
I was walking with a group of friends that evening in Hillbrow. From the blue and to my astonishment a woman pointed me out to the police claiming someone who was wearing a top and a pair of trousers similar to the ones I was wearing had robbed her. I believe it is coincidence that I was wearing the same colours the person who robbed her was putting on. It wasnt me, the minor earlier told this newspaper in an interview.
Meanwhile, the State earlier fumbled its case against the youth.
It emerged that contrary to the countrys laws, he had been tried despite him being a minor. An underage suspect can only be tried in the presence of a guardian.
The minor was subsequently transferred from the notorious Johannesburg Prison, infamously known as Sun City to a centre of young offenders outside the city.
Post published in: Politics