adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
TWO Bulawayo men have appeared in court after stealing copper cables worth $5 000 from Matopos Hotel where they were employed. Phineas Moyo (39) who was employed as a builder at the hotel and Sipho Sibanda (21) who was employed as a guard, stole copper cables from an electricity line at the hotel.
They stole 250kg of copper.
The court heard that the pair connived and cut out the copper cables in the middle of the night with an intention to sell them.
They ran out of luck after their expected buyer informed the police who then set up a trap to arrest the two men.
Prosecuting, Ms Jane Phiri said the pair was arrested by police detectives on 31 August.
“On 31 August Webster Majoli who is a Zesa loss control officer received information that Moyo and Sibanda were selling copper cables. He called police detectives and together with them he called the two accused persons and pretended that they wanted to buy the copper.
“The police detectives set up a meeting with Moyo and Sibanda where they agreed upon the price of the copper. The accused persons then left to collect the copper in a bushy area where they had hidden it and loaded it onto a motor vehicle,” said Ms Phiri.
She said the police detectives then arrested the accused persons and recovered the stolen copper.
Moyo and Sibanda appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Gideon Ruvesta and they were remanded in custody to 16 September for trial.
In a seperate incident a group of four men who are suspected to be part of a nine-member smuggling syndicate were recently arrested at the Plumtree Border Post while trying to smuggle 915 kg of copper worth $18 300 out of the country.
Smugglers have been cashing in on the metal which they have been stealing from electric and phone cables and selling it illegally in South Africa at a street value of R55 per kilogramme.
The mineral, which is reportedly in great demand in the neighbouring country, is used for the manufacture of bullets and coffin handles in South Africa.
Online Reporter