adminPaul Pindani in CHINHOYI
A HAULAGE truck driver was jailed two years for stealing over 43000 litres of petrol from his employer.
Paul Mberi, 51, appeared before Karoi regional magistrate Jessie Kufa, charged with theft of trust property.
Magistrate Kufa sentenced him to four years in jail before setting aside one year on condition of good behaviour.
Another year was suspended on condition Mberi pays restitution of US$15 344 by June 2023. He will effectively serve two years in jail.
The complainant in this case is Oilcom Transport Company, represented by Gareth Jenkins, who is employed as a workshop manager.
Prosecuting, Reginald Chavora, told the court that on May 2, this year, Mberi was dispatched from the Harare depot to Beira, Mozambique, driving an Oilcom truck.
The court heard that on May 4, 2022, Mberi’s truck was loaded with 43652 litres of petrol, which he was entrusted to deliver to Peroda Petroleum Lusaka, Zambia.
On May 5, 2022, Mberi arrived at Forbes Border Post in Mutare and went through all the customs formalities and proceeded to Harare. Upon arrival, he parked his truck at Bantu Truck Stop in Mt Hampden for the night.
Mberi, in connivance with other unknown persons who are still at large, stole 43 652 litres of petrol by draining it and replacing it with water.
He then proceeded to the Chirundu One Stop Border Post. Upon arrival, on May 7, 2022, Mberi then proceeded to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Exit gate, Zambian side, without his truck going through a physical examination by ZIMRA officials, as per procedure.
At the exit gate, he was attended to by Tsaurai Chimanikire, a ZIMRA official who referred him back to the ZIMRA physical examination bay.
Mberi fled and abandoned his truck.
A physical examination was carried out by ZIMRA officials, in the presence of Oilcom management.
The truck was found to have been filled with water, instead of petrol, resulting in it being seized.
Mberi was eventually arrested on May 16, 2022. A total of US$25 500, realised from the sale of the petrol, was recovered from his sister Grace Mberi and his wife Stella Kaurayi.
The duo had been asked to keep the money.
The total value stolen was US$ 40 814.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter