Fuel garage manager steals US$52K

A 28-year-old man from Hillside suburb in Bulawayo, employed as a manager at a leading fuel supply company in the Belmont industrial area has been arraigned before the courts on charges of stealing more than US$52K.

Daudi Daudi appeared in court on October 21, facing charges of theft of trust funds totalling US$52 852, and nothing was recovered.

He appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza who remanded him out of custody to November 4.

According to the prosecutor, Mr Dominic Moyo, Daudi committed the offence between October 9 and 18.

Mr Moyo told the court that as manager of the company in Bulawayo, Daudi received funds from various fuel stations, which he converted to his own use instead of depositing into the company’s account.

“The accused received cash from Imbizo, West Nicholson, Belmont and Esigodini service stations to bank into the company’s account but he converted the money to his own use,” said Mr Moyo.

He said when the trial commences, the State will produce an audit conducted by the company for the period in question.

Mr Moyo said Daudi also admitted to stealing the money when he was arrested.

“There are drive sheets that are available in the form of documentary exhibits,” said Mr Moyo.

Daudi’s arrest follows the recent appearance of a 35-year-old woman in court facing similar charges.

The woman from Barham Green in Bulawayo appeared in court on charges of stealing US$24 000 from a steel manufacturing company she works for in the Belmont industrial area during an armed robbery.

Nothando Banana, reportedly committed the crime on October 15, the same day robbers armed with pistols and a garden pick pounced and got away with US$32 500 in a violent armed robbery.

Banana, who is being charged with theft of trust funds, allegedly tried to cover up her crime by blaming the robbers for the theft of the money.

She appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mrs Benhilda Chiundura, while Mr Jethro Mada appeared for the State. Banana was released on US$100 bail and will return to the dock on November 1.

Banana is being represented by Mr Bob Siansole of Shenje and Company.

The public is keenly following the proceedings as the trial unfolds, as it comes on the heels of arguably the country’s biggest heist, in which about US$4 million was seized from an Ecobank branch in Bulawayo by AK47-armed robbers when it was being loaded into a waiting cash-in-transit van.

In another incident, US$20 000 was stolen from a Fawcett security cash-in-transit van after guards transporting the cash from Beitbridge to Mutare offered a lift to two strangers.

According to the latest crime statistics released by the police, the country recorded an alarming 11 percent surge in robberies prompting calls for the police to devise and implement effective strategies to combat crime.