Camera shy Bulawayo woman remanded in US$24 000 theft case

THE case of a 35-year-old woman from Barham Green in Bulawayo, who allegedly stole US$24 000 from a local steel manufacturing company she works for in the Belmont industrial area during an armed robbery, was further remanded yesterday. Nothando Banana, burly in stature and clad in black attire, immediately wore a floppy hat and shades to cover her face as she walked out of the courtroom.

While trying to avoid the camera, she walked along the walls of the courts in an attempt to remain unseen.

Once out of the building, Banana hastily made her way to a vehicle parked outside the courthouse at Tredgold building before being driven off by an elderly woman, presumed to be her mother, who had accompanied her to court. She was remanded out of custody until November 18, as investigations are still ongoing.

Banana reportedly committed the crime on October 15, the same day robbers armed with pistols and a garden pick pounced and got away with US$32 500 in a violent armed robbery.

Banana, who is being charged with theft of trust funds, allegedly tried to cover up her crime by blaming the robbers for the theft of the money. She initially appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Benhilda Chiundura, while Mr Jethro Mada appeared for the State. Banana is being represented by Mr Bob Siansole of Shenje and Company.

According to the State, Banana allegedly took advantage of the robbery and stole US$24 400 from a safe she was in charge of, depositing cash from salespersons before handing it over to her principals.

Court records state that the suspects confronted the security guards and workers on night duty and ordered them to lie down before tying their hands and legs with shoelaces.

“The gang proceeded to an office upstairs where they used a grinder to cut open two safes. They only stole from one safe and left the one Banana was entrusted with, depositing money from salespersons before handing it to the company authorities,” read a court document.

It was mentioned that company authorities found that the safe Banana was entrusted with, containing US$27 000, had not been tampered with while doing an inventory of the losses.

“They then asked for keys from the accused person and unlocked the safe. Upon opening the safe, they discovered that out of US$27 000, only US$2,600 was left. Upon interviewing her, she admitted to having used the money.”

Banana was reportedly apprehended following a day and night extravagant spending spree in Bulawayo.

In an almost similar case, a 28-year-old man from Hillside suburb in Bulawayo, employed as a manager at a leading fuel supply company in the Belmont industrial area, was arraigned before the courts on charges of stealing more than US$52 000.

Daudi Daudi appeared in court on October 21, facing charges of theft of trust funds totalling US$52 852, and nothing was recovered.

He appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza, who remanded him out of custody to November 4.

Daudi allegedly committed the offence between October 9 and 18. It was reported that as the manager of the company in Bulawayo, Daudi received funds from various fuel stations, which he converted to his own use instead of depositing into the company’s account.

An audit is expected to be produced when his trial commences. Daudi is said to have admitted to stealing the money when he was arrested.

According to the latest crime statistics released by the police, the country recorded an alarming 11 percent surge in robberies, prompting calls for the police to devise and implement effective strategies to combat crime. Addressing officers at this year’s ZRP Senior Officers’ Conference in Harare last week, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said it was disheartening that the police had failed to meet set targets.

He said the rise in crime in general leaves citizens apprehensive.