NEW: Duo slapped with combined 20-year jail sentence for stealing copper

Online Reporter

TWO men have each been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for stealing 276,5 kg of copper.

In a press statement, the National Prosecuting Authority said Themba Matarirano (40) and Leammore Dzirabwi (20) were convicted and sentenced by a Chivhu magistrate.

They were facing charges of contravening the Electricity Act.

“On the 30th of January 2024, the accused persons were on a bus when their bus was stopped at a roadblock by the police. The police carried out a search on the bus and they came across sacks belonging to the accused persons,” said the NPA.

“A search led to the recovery of copper conductors. The accused persons were asked to produce any document authorising them to have the copper conductors and they failed to produce anything, thereby leading to their arrest. The copper cables weighed 276.5kg.”