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Yeukai Karengezeka Court Correspondent
The owner of clothing shops JanJam, Cynthia Sithole allegedly lost stock worth US$4 000 to her former sales person who used the loot to open her own boutique.
Caroline Mutisi (24) appeared before Harare Magistrate Mr Simon Kandiyero charged with theft of trust property.
The State opposed bail on the grounds that there was overwhelming evidence that Mutisi stole the said material and some of the goods were recovered hence she could abscond court if granted bail.
Bail ruling will be given today.
Prosecuting, Ms Faith Mavhudzi alleged that on November 13, Mutisi was working as a cashier or sales person at Jan Jam Shop, owned by Sithole at 22 George Silundika street in Harare.
She was given three sealed bale sacks of boutique clothes stock for safe keeping in the shop.
However, on November 22, Sithole discovered that two of the three bale sacks had been unsealed and opened and did a stock take of the clothes in the opened bales and realised that stock valued at US$ 3 352 was missing.
She inquired from Mutisi who professed ignorance over the matter.
The court heard that Sithole was then informed by the security guard that Mutisi had been taking away wrapped items from the shop and sent them away through a taxi driver called Takunda Jeke.
Sithole also received information that Mutisi had opened her own shop along Cameroon street in Harare.
The taxi driver, Jese, confirmed being sent on errands by Mutisi, carrying items including mannequins (shop dolls) from the shop and delivering them to destinations as directed by Mutisi.
Sithole then went to Mutisi’s shop, where she recovered her four dolls valued at US$600 that had been stolen from her shop.
Sithole also recovered her two product lines composed of dresses valued at US$400 from Mutisi’s shop.
She reported the matter to the police leading to the arrest of Mutisi.
Stock worth US$1 000 was recovered.
Online Reporter