Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Writer
A 33-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man appeared in court yesterday for allegedly selling a hired car after being involved in an accident and squandering the proceeds.
Jabulani Ndlovu of Mahatshula North suburb appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere, facing charges of theft of trust property.
He was remanded out of custody until September 5 on bail of US$100. As part of the bail conditions, Ndlovu was barred from interfering with State witnesses and he is supposed to report to Bulawayo Central Police Station once a week, every Friday.
Prosecutor Ms Christina Manyika told the court that the incident occurred on June 26.
“On that date, Ndlovu visited Bornwell Takaidza (36) at his residence in Emakhandeni to hire his Mazda Demio, registration number AFY 5269, for one day,” she said.
The court heard that while driving the hired vehicle, Ndlovu was involved in an accident. He informed Takaidza and allegedly promised to replace the car with a new one. Instead, he allegedly sold the wreckage and kept the money for himself.
When confronted by Takaidza, Ndlovu allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, prompting the matter to be reported to the police, which led to his arrest.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, a 45-year-old Bulawayo man appeared before the same magistrate for allegedly carving raw ivory into bangles without a licence.
The ivory, weighing 3,7kg and valued at US$260, was allegedly found at his home.
Khohli Nyathi of Nkulumane suburb pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawfully processing and manufacturing ivory artifacts. He was remanded out of custody until August 27.
Ms Manyika told the court that on July 26, detectives received a tip-off that Nyathi was carving ivory at his residence.
“On that day, detectives went to the accused’s home and found him operating a lathe machine, carving ivory into bangles,” she said.
A search of the premises allegedly led to the recovery of six polished ivory bangles, 16 unpolished bangles and several ivory off-cuts. Detectives requested a permit authorising Nyathi to process ivory, but he failed to produce one, leading to his arrest.
The seized items, which included the bangles, ivory off-cuts, a lathe machine and an electric grinder, were handed over to a ZimParks ecologist for examination.
