adminElizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
A CONVICT who escaped from Whawha Prison in 2011, a few months before he was due to complete a four-year sentence, has been given an additional 18 months in jail. Innocent Tachi, 31, was serving a four-year prison term for unlawful entry and theft.
The court heard how he outpaced prison officers, dodging bullets as he escaped from lawful custody albeit for a short period.
He appeared before Gweru Magistrate Judith Taruvinga facing one count of escaping from lawful custody.
“What you did is unlawful and your escape may have led to the dismissal of some prison officers. The manner of your escape was aggravating considering you were ordered to stop. You proceeded and warning shots were fired and you succeeded in getting away,” said Taruvinga.
“However, you’re not clever considering that you were only left with few months to finish your sentence. You are sentenced to 18 months in prison, six months suspended on condition you don’t commit an offence of escaping from lawful custody in the next 5 years. Effectively, you will serve 12 months.”
Prosecuting, Daniel Tafuma told the court that on December 13, 2011 at around 9AM and at Whawha Prison farm, Tachi, together with 12 inmates, were taken to the prison farm so that they could collect some logs to use as hoe handles.
“After collecting the logs, prison officer Chinakidzwa, who was escorting them, ordered them to go back,” said Tapfira.
“Tachi started running and ignored prison guards’ instructions to stop. Warning shots were fired but he continued and ran away into the bush.”
The prosecutor told the court that Tachi was rearrested on January 2, 2012 in Nembudziya, Gokwe.
Online Reporter