Pig thief locked up

Court Reporter
A Beatrice pig thief has been jailed for an effective 12 years. The 31-year-old man of no fixed abode, Paul Tsikai, stole valuables and livestock worth US$4 234 from six farms and homes in the area. He mainly stole pigs that he would slaughter and roast in the bushes. His life of crime, that started last December, ended on September 16 when he was arrested after officials from the Central Intelligence Organisation in the same location received a tip off from the public.

In December he took a battery from Cleto Utete’s vehicle at Samaita Farm.
He also stole kitchen utensils valued at US$772 and diesel among other items. On another day, he went again to Utete’s farm and stole a boar and two more at Blackstone Farm and slaughtered them.

The determined Tsikai took some of the meat to his girlfriend’s house. She was only identified as Grace.
He also stole porkers from Joice Tutai, Amos Murangandi and Lovemore Kalembe.

Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini sentenced him to 13 years and suspended two years for five years.
Two more years were set aside on condition he pays back US$892 to those he stole from. Mr Jarabini brought into effect three years of his previous conviction which were set aside in 2011.

He will serve an effective 12 years behind bars.
Mr Edmond Ndambakuwa appeared for the State.