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Tatenda Matasva (27), who had been sent to collect vegetables from the farm, was sold out by his colleagues who later gave a chase and apprehended him.
Matasva was yesterday jailed eight months effective after pleading guilty to charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody. Harare provincial magistrate, Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini, jailed Matasva after considering the seriousness of the offence. In passing sentence, Mr Jarabini said he considered what Matasva said in mitigation, but argued he had committed a very serious offence. He said Matasva who is not a first offender showed no remorse. Ms Memory Chidavaenzi prosecuted.
In mitigation Matasva had told the court that he is a family man and that he was possessed when he tried to escape. He pleaded for leniency since he did not know what he was doing during the time in question.
The agreed facts are that on June 30 this year at around 2pm Matasva was given a task to go and fetch vegetables in the prisons garden within the sight of a prison officer.
He took advantage of the distance between him and the officer in question and took to his heels. His fellow prisoners raised alarm and he was caught by another inmate with the help of prison officers. He was brought back to prison and was later transferred to Harare Central Prison. Prison officials reported the matter to the police who brought him to court.
Online Reporter