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Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
A 34-YEAR-OLD man from Gweru was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for stealing two bottles of Vodka worth $5,50 each at a local supermarket.
Tawanda Sithole of Riverside in Gweru will spend the next 13 months in jail after five months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next two years. Sithole however, pleaded not guilty to theft charges when he appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga.
In passing the sentence, Ms Taruvinga said: “The court considers what the accused person did as aggravating to the fact that he is a repeat offender who is not reforming. The accused person once stole at OK Supermarket, Gweru and this has actually become a habit hence the court is of the view that a relatively long custodial sentence will meet the justice of this case,” said Ms Taruvinga.
Prosecuting, Ms Memory Chitsunge told the court that on 3 November, Sithole got into OK Supermarket and proceeded to the liquor section. Sithole took two bottles of 750ml Vodka Cherik off the shelves and hid them at a shelf with mealie meal.
He then left the shop, but came back into the supermarket after about four minutes and took the two bottles and hid them in his trousers pockets before he left without paying. He was followed by Mr Lazarus Matarirano who had been monitoring the Closed Circuit Television and asked him to bring back the bottles of liquor. Sithole was apprehended and taken to a police station where a report was made. The value of goods stolen was $11 and everything was recovered.
Bongani Ndlovu