Cop acquitted of theft

Taurai Chideme (24), of Block R87 Ross Camp, Bulawayo, had pleaded not guilty to the charge before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sophie Matimba.
The court last week found him not guilty at the close of the State case on the grounds that placing Chideme on his defence would strengthen a weak State case.

She also ruled that the evidence of the three State witnesses who testified in court did not tally.
Mrs Matimba noted that one witness testified that Chideme was the only one with the keys to the safe while the other two State witnesses said at one point they were also in charge of the keys to the safe.

“It is not clear who stole the funds. It appears the accused was arrested because he was in charge of the funds. He was used as a black sheep.
“The State failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused. He is therefore found not guilty and acquitted,” she ruled.

Chideme’s responsibilities included keeping mess money in the safe and keeping the safe keys at the depot.
It was the State case that on 1 October 2010, he had $702,54 in the safe, which had been carried forward from the previous month.
He was given $5 000 andused some of it for mess business.

On 8 October the same year, he received a total of $22 702,54. He used $13 581,18 and the State was alleging that he stole the remaining $9 121,36. $300 was allegedly recovered from his house.

Mr Robin Mukura prosecuted.