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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
AN electrician employed by a Chipinge-based tea company was recently arrested for stealing electrical cables worth more than US$4 000 from his employer.
Tembani Chakweya of Ratelshoek Estate appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi, facing theft charges.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to April 11 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Thulani Zondwayo said the offence was committed between March 1 and March 28. Chakweya was employed by the tea company as a factory electrician on March 1 this year.
“His duties included maintenance of electrical equipment, attending to all faulty electrical faults and maintenance of power lines.
“During the course of his duties, he took advantage of his access to the company’s equipment and hatched a plan to steal some armored cables from the storeroom.
“On several occasions, Chakweya went to the storeroom and stole armored cables which he would skin off the outer sheaths and remain with the copper cables. He would take them home in small quantities,” he said.
Mr Zondwayo added that on March 27, Chakweya was on duty when he went to the factory intending to fix a fault.
“While in the factory, Chakweya cut 18 metres of the armored cable. He stripped off the outer sheaths and remained with the copper cable. Chakweya loaded the copper cable on his motorbike and took it home.
“On March 28, the theft was discovered and security details were alerted. The matter was reported to the police. Detectives from CID’s Mineral Flora and Fauna Unit attended the scene and conducted investigations, thereby leading to Chakweya’s arrest,” said Mr Zondwayo.
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