A MAN from Bulawayo who connived with his married girlfriend to rob a man of two cell phones and about $100 at “gun point” has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

A court heard that Naison Sibanda (34) of Cowdray Park suburb and Siphumuzile Sibanda (41) of Nkulumane suburb subdued Mr Edson Sibanda with a jet of pepper spray on his face on May 11 and threatened to shoot him before demanding cash.

Siphumuzile, whose husband is working in South Africa, allegedly had sex with Edson in his car at St Luke’s Shopping centre before asking him to transport her and Naison to Bulawayo. Siphumuzile and Naison had gone to St Luke’s Shopping Centre on a drinking spree.

A court heard the duo later robbed Edson of $102 and two cell phones with a toy gun, after using pepper spray on him when they arrived in Bulawayo.

Naison and Siphumuzile appeared before magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza facing a charge of robbery. Naison pleaded guilty but Siphumuzile denied the charge.

Mr Mabeza sentenced Naison to 12 years in prison but suspended four years for five years on condition he does not commit a similar crime.