Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Ngara, Court Reporter
A National University of Science and Technology (NUST) employee was arrested for allegedly stealing a cooler box which contained ice blocks from a parked vehicle.
Brilliant Mhlanga from Lobengula suburb allegedly stole from Mr Malusi Dube (38) from Khumalo suburb.
Mhlanga pleaded not guilty to theft before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Lizwe Jamela.
Mhlanga told the court that he wanted some ice blocks from the cooler box and tried to wake up Mr Dube who was asleep.
He said when Mr Dube did not respond, he decided to take the cooler box out of the car.
The magistrate remanded Mhlanga out of custody to March 10 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Terrence Chakabuda said on Wednesday at around 4AM, Mr Dube parked his vehicle at Broadway Spar in the city and went into the supermarket to buy some beer.
He said Mr Dube came back minutes later with his friend and they relaxed in the car until they fell asleep.
“The security of Broadway Spar then woke them up and informed the complainant that the accused person had stolen some property from his car,” said Mr Chakabuda.
Mr Dude checked his property and realised that Mhlanga had forced down the window and took a blue cooler box which had some ice blocks.
Mr Dube with the aid of the security guard managed to apprehend Mhlanga and the cooler box was recovered.
The value of the property stolen was $160.-@missngara
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