adminCourt Reporter
A 30-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man who went on a shops breaking spree stealing mostly cigarettes which he later smuggled out of the country, was yesterday sentenced to 12 years in prison.Tinashe Gwativenga Moyo, of 1317/2 Old Magwegwe was arrested after breaking into three supermarkets in Bulawayo’s western suburbs and stole goods worth more than $4 000 and $900 cash.
Moyo was convicted on his own plea of guilty to housebreaking and theft by Western Commonage magistrate Mr Willard Maphios Moyo.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison but will serve an effective eight years after four years were conditionally suspended.
In mitigation, Moyo told the court that he broke into the shops because he wanted to steal cigarettes to smuggle into Botswana where he said there was high demand.
“I wanted cigarettes to sell in Botswana because there is a high demand,” said Moyo.
For the State, Mr Tatenda Dakwa said Moyo broke into the shops between April and August this year.
Online Reporter