Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Reporter
A 26-year-old employee of Metro Peach Wholesale in Bulawayo has been fined US$200 and ordered to pay US$506 in restitution after using fake receipts to steal grocery items from his workplace.
Crispen Sauti, of Nketa 8 suburb, used counterfeit receipts to unlawfully obtain twelve 50kg bags of flour and 13 cases of 12x440ml soft drinks on separate occasions without being detected.
He pleaded guilty before magistrate Mr Archie Wochiwunga, who fined him US$200 and sentenced him to five months in prison.
Two months of the sentence were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next three years. The remaining three months were suspended on the condition that he repays US$506 to his employer by August 30, 2025.
Prosecuting, Ms Audrey Kufandikanwe told the court that the offences occurred on July 15 and 22, 2025 at Metro Peach Cash and Carry Wholesale, located along Khami Road in Bulawayo.
Sauti is employed by Metro Peach, and the complainant is the company itself, represented by Mr Shepherd Machanja (36).
The court heard that on July 15, 2025, Sauti used a forged receipt to falsely claim he had purchased six 50kg bags of flour, which he took without detection. After getting away with it the first time, he repeated the offence on July 22, stealing another six 50kg bags of flour and 13 cases of soft drinks using the same method.
Subsequent investigations led to Sauti’s arrest. On one occasion, he was captured on CCTV.
Asked why he committed the crime, Sauti told the court he was trying to raise money to support his pregnant wife.
The total value of the stolen goods was US$506,20. None of the items were recovered.
