Mine manager fined for stealing from employer, assaulting worker.

A 40-YEAR-OLD mine manager in Inyathi, Bubi District has been fined US$1 000 and ordered to pay back US$1 221 to his employer after stealing company funds and assaulting a subordinate.

Zhao Rui Jun, who was employed as a factory manager at Ming Chang Sino Africa Pvt Ltd’s Lime

Factory at Turk Mine, was convicted of theft and assault by Inyathi magistrate Mr Challenge Mahembe.

For the theft charge, Zhao was fined US$1 000 or 12 months in prison.

He was sentenced to a further 12 months’ imprisonment which was suspended on condition that he restitutes his employer US$ 1 221 by September 30.

For assault, Zhao was sentenced to six months in prison, which was suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period.

The court heard that between December last year and May this year, Zhao unlawfully converted

US$3 850 belonging to his employer to his personal use.

According to the State, Zhao was responsible for production at the lime factory and had produced about 450 tonnes of quarry material valued at US$4 500.

He handed US$1 900 to the company cashier and pocketed the remaining US$2 600.

The court further heard that during the same period, Zhao leased company equipment, including a front-end loader and grader, to a garage in Inyathi and received US$2 000 in cash.

“Only US$750 was recorded in the company books, while Zhao converted the remaining US$1 250 to his own use,” read court papers.

The theft was discovered after other employees reported the theft to management, leading to Zhao’s arrest.

The court heard that US$2 629 of the stolen money was recovered.

The assault charge arose from an altercation with a subordinate, Mr Kelvin Rakata, a stone crusher operator.

On May 8, Zhao confronted Mr Rakata after he refused to increase the speed of the machine because its conveyor belt was worn out.

Zhao then ordered Mr Rakata to report to his office, where he instructed him to sign a final warning.

The court heard that while in the office, Zhao grabbed Mr Rakata by the neck before pushing him out.

A report was made to the police, leading to Zhao’s arrest.