Pregnant woman steals brandy

A PREGNANT woman has been sentenced to perform 105 hours of community service for stealing brandy from a supermarket in Gwanda Town.

The six-month pregnant Tryphine Dube (28), of Silikwe Village in Matshetsheni area under Chief Masuku pleaded guilty to stealing goods worth $25,30 from Umkoko Supermarket when she appeared before magistrate Mrs Olivia Mashava Mashaire.

Dube was found in possession of four 375ml Viceroy brandy bottles, bathing soap, a tissue roll and a packet of sweets but failed to produce a receipt, leading to her arrest.

She said she stole because she wanted to sell the goods to raise school fees for her children. She was sentenced to three months imprisonment which was suspended on condition that she performed 105 hours of community service at Silikwe Primary School starting tomorrow. The community service should be completed in three weeks.

In passing the sentence, the magistrate considered that Dube was a first offender, a mother of three who did not benefit from the offence. The magistrate said she could have fined Dube but feared that she might have difficulties in raising the fine, resulting in her serving the suspended three months prison term.

“I don’t think you want to raise your baby there (in prison). It appears you have been shoplifting several times but in this instance you were caught. To steal from a business that benefits society is wrong,” said Mrs Mashava Mashaire.

On 2 November this year at about 12 noon, Dube entered into Umkoko Supermarket just like all other customers.

A security guard at the supermarket, Simelokuhle Nkomo received a tip-off from one of the workers that there were two people, a male and a female who were in the shop and were suspected to be thieves.

Dube, after finishing her business in the shop, then tried to leave the shop without being searched but was stopped by Nkomo. Dube refused to be searched saying that she was coming from the parcel counter and had some goods which could break easily.

The security guard asked Dube to remove the baby she was carrying on her back and she complied. She was searched and the stolen goods were recovered.