adminTendai Gukutikwa
A COMMUTER omnibus conductor who saw it fit to convert to his own use the money that a passenger had left in his vehicle was sentenced to six months in jail.
His alleged accomplice, the driver of the kombi, is out on $150 bail. Daniel Nyika (25) pleaded guilty to stealing R13 600 which a passenger had forgotten in their vehicle.
The driver and owner of the vehicle, Enock Manjeya (26) denied the charges.
Mrs Sekai Chiundura presided over the case.
The State led by Mr Donald Mudadirwa had opposed bail for Manjeya arguing that he was on the run until detectives arrested him after a tip-off.
“The two accused persons put to their own use money amounting to R13 600 which Sheila Makuti, a passenger had forgotten in her bag in their Toyota Noah vehicle which the pair was using as a taxi commuting on the Sakubva-Town route.
“When Makuti approached them asking if they had seen her bag, Nyika and Manjeya denied ever seeing the bag. A police report was made resulting in the arrest of Nyika, while Manjeya disappeared,” he said.
Nyika did not waste the court’s time as he pleaded guilty.
“Your Worship, I took the money and I am willing to restitute the complainant. What I did was wrong,” said Nyika.
Mrs Chiundura did not buy his plea.
“You committed a serious offence and therefore deserve a stiff sentence that will discourage other aspiring thieves from following your wicked path,” she said.
Nyika was sentenced to six months imprisonment and ordered to restitute the complainant or risk being imprisoned for a further four months.
Online Reporter