adminAdelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
A DENTAL surgeon stationed at Binga District Hospital on Friday stunned a magistrate when he said his friends ill-advised him to stop paying maintenance for his two-year-old child. Learnmore Sibanda, 27, who resides in Pumula East in Bulawayo, was in July ordered to pay $125 per month to maintain the child but has failed to pay resulting in the money accumulating to $625.
He told Lupane resident magistrate Ndumo Masuku:
“I know I acted out of ignorance in terms of obeying the law and I ask the court to be lenient towards me. I acted on wrong advice from my colleagues and for that I’m sorry.”
He did not name the colleagues. Sibanda was charged with failure to pay maintenance.
He pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to two months imprisonment.
One month was wholly suspended on condition that he pays the $625 to Thembela Mpofu, the mother of the baby by December 11.
The remaining month was suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
Prosecuting Sanders Sibanda told the court that on July 24 at Lupane magistrate’s court, Sibanda was ordered to pay $125 for the upkeep of his child.
“The court ordered Sibanda to pay $125 per month for the upkeep of his child. From July to November the accused failed to pay anything resulting in him being in arrears of $625,” said the prosecutor.
A warrant of arrest was issued against Sibanda for him to appear in court.
Online Reporter