Online Reporter
Court Correspondent
A Harare man, who twice obtained meals from Chicken Inn after falsely claiming that his political party would settle the bills has been sentenced to 20 days in prison.
Nevan Nyarugwe (52) pleaded guilty to two counts of making off without payment when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ayanda Dhlamini.
The court heard that on July 31, at around noon, Nyarugwe approached a food outlet along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare and ordered food.
He allegedly told the outlet’s representative, Rocky Sam, that he wanted to eat and that his political party would pay for the meal.
Nyarugwe was subsequently given a three-piece chicken meal valued at US$9, but left without making payment.
He allegedly failed to return and settle the bill despite knowing that payment was required immediately.
Nothing was recovered.
On August 7, at around 12.30pm, Nyarugwe allegedly returned to the same outlet and again claimed that his political party would pay for his food.
He was given a one-piece meal valued at US$3 and left without paying.
The court heard that he again failed to settle the bill, resulting in a total loss of US$12.
Investigations were subsequently conducted, leading to the discovery that Nyarugwe had misrepresented himself and that no payment was forthcoming from the purported political party.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri represented the State.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Dhlamini sentenced Nyarugwe to 20 days’ imprisonment, wholly suspended on condition that he restitutes the full US$12.
Mathew Masinge