Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A BULAWAYO sales manager who defrauded her employer of US$5 034 through a counterfeit receipt scheme involving mobile phone sales has been convicted and ordered to pay a US$600 fine or face one year in prison.
Rhoda Tariro Mukurakudya, from Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi suburb, appeared on Tuesday before Bulawayo Magistrate Mr Challenge Mahembe for sentencing after being found guilty of theft of trust property. In addition to the fine, Mr Mahembe suspended a four-year prison sentence on the strict condition that she fully restitutes T Mobile Trading Company the stolen US$5 034.
Mukurakudya was legally represented by Mr Nkosiyenzile Mpofu, while Mr Tinashe Runganga of Tanaka Law Chambers appeared on behalf of the prejudiced company.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Mr Mahembe stated that while a custodial sentence is a last resort for a female first-time offender, white-collar crimes within commercial organisations cannot be ignored.
“Commercial crimes in organisations are a cause of concern and a worry to the nation. For now the court will not jail you as you have volunteered to restitute your former employer,” he said.
In aggravation, public prosecutor Mr Joseph Rugara had aggressively lobbied for a severe, deterrent penalty, arguing that Mukurakudya’s pre-planned criminal scheme heavily bled the business.
“The offender did not commit this crime out of sudden temptation; she meticulously printed and introduced a counterfeit receipt book into the daily operations of the company.
“She systemically by-passed internal security to pocket company revenue while occupying a high-leverage position as a team leader. This gross breach of trust causes severe financial stress to local corporate and taints a bad picture to potential investors. The State prays for a penalty that sends a clear message that insider corporate theft will be heavily penalised,” argued Mr Rugara.
The court heard that between 27 July and 17 August, Mukurakudya used her own counterfeit receipt book to record sales transactions. She issued unsuspecting customers with fake receipts and subsequently diverted all the cash proceeds to her personal use.
The scam was discovered during a routine company stock take, which uncovered massive ledger discrepancies, explicitly matching US$5 034 worth of missing mobile phones. A prompt report was filed with the police, leading to her immediate arrest.
