Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A 42-year-old man from Hwange is counting the cost of a poor decision, after he broke into his mother’s bedroom and stole her mobile phone, which he later sold to buy beer.
Hubert Mwembe, of Empumalanga Phase 4, appeared before Provincial Magistrate, Mr Bentone Matope, facing two charges: malicious damage to property and theft.
He pleaded guilty to both charges.
For the malicious damage to property, he was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended on condition he pays ZWG900 for the damage.
On the theft charge, Mwembe was sentenced to six months in prison, with two months suspended on condition he restitutes the complainant ZWG4 500. He will thus serve an effective four-month custodial sentence.
Prosecutor, Mr Wisdom Shava told the court that on 4 April this year at about 5pm, Mwembe went to the home of his 72-year-old mother, Rebecca Mwembe, who resides at the same address.
He forcibly kicked open her bedroom door and took an Itel mobile phone, claiming he needed to use it to contact a client.
He left the house, but when the complainant returned later, she discovered the damaged door and that her Itel A37 mobile phone was missing.
She reported the matter to the police, leading to her son’s arrest.
The damage to the door was valued at ZWG900 and had not been repaired. The stolen phone valued at US$100 was not recovered.
