Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A maid and her husband have appeared in court facing allegations of stealing US$16 500 from her employer, a Chinese national based in Harare.
Moline Mutsambiwa (38) was remanded in custody to September 26 when she appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court.
Her husband, Charles Munyaradzi Dzembe (42), a vendor selling school ties, was also arrested in connection with the alleged theft.
The complainant, Cheng Liang, is a Chinese national who resides in Harare.
The State alleges that on September 11 at around noon, Mutsambiwa reported for work at Liang’s four-roomed apartment.
She proceeded to clean the rooms while Liang remained in possession of a satchel containing US$72 300 in cash.
It is alleged that Liang briefly left the satchel unattended for about three minutes as he prepared some tea.
After about an hour, Mutsambiwa told Liang that she had finished her work and was about to leave.
The court heard that when Liang opened his satchel intending to pay Mutsambiwa, he discovered that a substantial amount of cash was missing.
He immediately alerted the police and, while waiting for them to arrive, he locked Mutsambiwa inside the apartment and went out to look for a woman to search her.
It is alleged that during Liang’s absence, Mutsambiwa handed the stolen money to her friend, only identified as Martha, for safekeeping.
Martha is still at large.
Later that day, police detectives interviewed Mutsambiwa, who allegedly confessed to stealing the money. She revealed that she had handed it over to Martha.
In following up on the money, detectives were led to Mutsambiwa’s husband, Dzembe.
Dzembe was arrested and allegedly confessed to the offence before handing over US$10 500.
The State alleges that the complainant suffered an actual prejudice of US$16 500 and only US$10 500 was recovered.
