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A BULAWAYO vendor, who defrauded a city man of $170 on the pretext that he would supply him with fish, was spared the agony of jail life when he was ordered to perform 105 hours of community service. Bothwell Chabausa Mwinde (28), of House Number 13 Wayne Road in Waterford, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to fraud by Bulawayo magistrate, Mrs Evelyn Mashavakure.
He was sentenced to five months in prison of which two months were suspended on condition that he restitutes the $170.
The remaining three months were suspended on condition that Mwinde performs community service at Lockview Primary School.
The prosecutor, Ms Paida Zengeni, told the court that Mwinde met the complainant, Mr Willingmore Mabhena in the Central Business District.
Mwinde offered to buy Mr Mabhena fish in Binga.
On 3 June, Mr Mabhena and Mwinde arranged to meet in town and he gave him the $170 as per their initial agreement. Mwinde failed to deliver the consignment as per the agreement prompting Mr Mabhena to report that matter to the police leading to Mwinde’s arrest.
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