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Cynthia Dube, Court Reporter
A MAN From Bulawayo’s Entumbane suburb was arrested after he was caught red-handed draining oil from a transformer at Mpilo Central Hospital, a court heard yesterday.
Ricky Jones (38) had allegedly drained 20 litres of oil from the disconnected transformer when he was caught by the hospital’s security guards and arrested.
The court heard that the three security guards apprehended him after chasing him for a short distance.
Jones appeared before Magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing a charge of theft.
He pleaded guilty and Mr Tashaya remanded him in custody to today for judgement.
“Your worship, l was passing by and l saw the oil leaking from the transformer and l decided to drain it. I wanted to use it to paint my gum poles and sell them to get money to fend for my children. I didn`t know it was an offence,” he said.
Prosecuting Mr Leonard Chile said on December 4, at around 3PM, an anonymous person saw Jones draining the oil and alerted the security guards.
Mr Chile told the court that the three security guards proceeded to the place but Jones had already left.
“The trio followed him and when he realised that the security guards were following him, he dropped a carrier bag which contained tins that had the oil and ran away,” he said.
Mr Chile said the security guards gave chase and managed to apprehend Jones before handing him over to police officers at the hospital’s police post.
The total value of the oil stolen is $60 and all was recovered.
@cynthiamthembo1
Online Reporter