adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A Tsholotsho man who stole a police officer’s bicycle from Plumtree Police Station and later pretended to be mentally challenged, has been sentenced to three months imprisonment.
Mncedisi Ncube, 27, of Sikali area, stole the bicycle in the presence of police officers and later claimed to be its owner.
The court had ordered Ncube to be examined by two doctors to ascertain his mental stability.
A report presented before the court yesterday confirmed that Ncube was sane.
He was convicted of theft by Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon.
In passing sentence, Philemon lashed out at Ncube for using his family as an excuse for his criminal activities.
Ncube pleaded for leniency saying he stole the bicycle out of desperation.
“Your Worship I’m sorry and I regret my actions. It’s just that I was desperate to get some money. My family is in Tsholotsho and I came here with the hope of getting employment but I failed.
“When I saw those bicycles, I was tempted to steal one. I wanted to sell it. I know it was risky for me to steal from a police station but this only proves that I was really desperate,” said Ncube.
In his initial appearance in court, Ncube had said the bicycle belonged to him as it had gone missing a few months back.
Online Reporter