Guards instruct prisoner to steal

Plaxcedes Hove Chronicle Reporter
THREE Khami Prison guards allegedly instructed an inmate to steal property worth $5,486 from the prison quartermasters’ stores while they stood guard.
Danmore Murima, Navison Masendeke and Phibeon Mkanjela appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube yesterday facing charges of theft and unlawful entry.

Prosecuting, Frank Ncube said the trio used Makhulela Sibanda, an inmate to steal from the prison.

“The trio instructed Sibanda who was serving as an inmate attached at the quartermasters’ stores to steal uniforms and food meant for prison use whilst they stood guard,” he said.

The court heard that between January to March 2014 the trio and the inmate used pliers to cut open a closed storeroom screen door to gain entry and steal.
The prison wardens were implicated by the inmate they were using to steal the property, said Ncube.

“The prison officers were implicated by Sibanda and a search was conducted at their households. The stolen property was recovered at Murima and Mkanjela’s households,” he said.

Sibanda who is standing in as a State witness is not being charged for the offence. The trio who are out on bail pleaded not guilty and the trial continues on April 30.