Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana, [email protected]
A SECURITY guard in Hwange has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing 5 500 litres of diesel worth US$8 250 from his employer.
Godknows Vuta (31), employed as a security guard at a construction company in Hwange, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to theft by Hwange provincial magistrate, Mr Bentone Matope.
Mr Matope suspended one year of the sentence on condition that Vuta does not commit a similar offence during the next five years. A further one year was suspended on condition that Vuta restitutes the complainant US$8 250 by 3 March.
Prosecuting, Ms Jamesina Erica Makanza told the court that on 2 December last year, Vuta’s supervisor, Matthew Sibanda, left him in charge of company property, including a fuel tank containing 9 500 litres of diesel while he went on holiday.
Between 21 December and 29 January, Vuta drained 5 500 litres of diesel from the tank and converted it to his own use.
The offence came to light on 30 January when Sibanda returned from holiday and conducted dip tests on the tank where he noticed the anomaly and reported the matter to the police and investigations led to Vuta’s arrest.
The stolen fuel, valued at US$8 250, was not recovered.
