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Michael Magoronga
A SELF-PROCLAIMED prophet from Kwekwe who would go into “spiritual tantrums” and assault congregants has been slapped with a 12-month jail sentence by a Kwekwe Magistrate.
Prophet Simabyu Shiri 35) who grabbed headlines for beating up an elderly female congregant, was dragged to court to answer in person for his spiritual misdemeanor.
Three months of the sentence were suspended for five years while the remaining were wholly converted to 315 hours of community service.
Meting out the sentence, Magistrate Cheryl Tembo considered that Simabyu Shiri (35), had pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Violet Ndleleni (54) for allegedly spreading lies about him and did not waste the court’s time.
An audio recording of the assault has gone viral on social media.
Shiri who was facing three counts of assault was convicted on his plea in one case.
The other two cases in which he was accused of assaulting Peace Tapfumaneyi and Takudzwa Dube were thrown out due to a lack of evidence.
Shiri in plea admitted that he acted unlawfully by assaulting Ndhleleni.
“I apologise. I acted unlawfully. I overreacted. I am willing to restitute the complainant and pay for medical bills incurred,” he said.
Shiri was represented by Kwekwe lawyer Wisdom Mehlo while Ms Ethel Bhumure represented the State.
derick.khumalo