A man accused of masterminding one of Zimbabwe’s most daring bank robberies has been denied bail by the Bulawayo High Court, with the court ruling that he poses a significant flight risk as he awaits trial over the US$4 million Ecobank heist.
By Advent Shoko
The decision keeps Bhekani Milo behind bars as prosecutors prepare to pursue charges linked to the dramatic armed robbery at Ecobank’s Parkade branch in Bulawayo, where more than US$4.4 million was allegedly stolen in broad daylight.
In a case that has gripped public attention for months, the court heard that the robbery was no ordinary theft, but a carefully planned operation involving cross-border movements, armed interception, and an eventual international manhunt.
Court Rejects Bail Bid
Delivering the ruling, Justice Evangelista Kabasa said the court could not ignore the circumstances surrounding Milo’s arrest and extradition.
While acknowledging that bail should never be used as punishment before trial, the judge said the overriding issue was whether the accused would return to court.
“Bail should not be used as anticipatory punishment, but it cannot be granted where there is a clear risk the accused may evade trial.”
The judge said Milo’s travel history and the ease of moving across regional borders made him a serious abscondment risk.
“The applicant is well travelled and the lack of a passport, with our porous borders, cannot stop one from travelling.”
Justice Kabasa further noted that law enforcement authorities had to engage in a lengthy international process to secure Milo’s return to Zimbabwe.
“If that does not speak to him being a flight risk, then I do not know what will.”
The court ultimately ruled that releasing him on bail could interfere with the proper administration of justice.
How the US$4 Million Heist Unfolded
According to court papers, the robbery took place on October 3, 2024, when a gang allegedly travelled from South Africa in a white Ford Ranger.
Investigators say the vehicle initially carried South African number plates before being switched to Zimbabwean registration shortly before the robbery.
The gang is alleged to have ambushed a Safeguard Private Security cash-in-transit vehicle near Ecobank’s Parkade branch in Bulawayo.
Armed with firearms, the suspects reportedly held the security guards hostage and seized two reinforced metal cash boxes containing US$4,448,500.
Three firearms were also allegedly taken during the robbery, a detail prosecutors say underscores the violent and aggravated nature of the offence.
The scale, precision and timing of the raid have led investigators to treat the matter as one of the most serious armed robberies in recent years.
Cross-Border Arrests and Extradition
The case took an international turn after police launched a months-long investigation that stretched beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
Two alleged accomplices, Elijah and Abraham Vumbunu, were reportedly arrested in South Africa and are still awaiting extradition proceedings.
Milo was later arrested in Botswana on July 15 last year, following what prosecutors described as an extended regional pursuit involving cooperation between law enforcement agencies in multiple countries.
He was eventually extradited to Zimbabwe in November 2025.
State prosecutors told the court that the complexity of the arrest process itself points to the risk of flight.
They also said they have assembled strong evidence, including the alleged getaway vehicle and witness testimony.
One witness is said to have insider knowledge of a planning meeting allegedly held in South Africa before the robbery.
Defence Claims Innocence
In his bail application, Milo denied involvement in the heist.
He told the court that he was in Mozambique at the time of the robbery and insisted he had no connection to the alleged accomplices.
The accused also described himself as a family man with fixed roots and said he was willing to surrender his passport as a condition for bail.
He argued that these factors reduced any risk of absconding.
However, the court found those assurances insufficient in light of the prosecution’s evidence and the regional nature of the investigation.
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