Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura
A PUMULA Old man’s appetite for free-range chicken has landed him in the dock after he was hauled before the courts for gobbling up two road runner chickens worth just US$21.
The now-infamous chicken chomper, Bonisani Ngwenya (41), appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Jeconia Prince Ncube facing stock theft charges.
And when asked why he stole the birds, Ngwenya did not beat around the bush.
“I ate them,” he told the court.
That confession cooked his goose.
Ngwenya was sentenced to four months in prison.
However, three months were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
The remaining month was also suspended on condition that he pays back the US$21 before July 3.
According to prosecutor Tafara Dzimbanhete, on May 5 at around 4PM Ngwenya paid a visit to the home of 57-year-old Sithembiso Ngwenya.
Spotting an opportunity as golden as a crispy chicken drumstick, Ngwenya found only a caretaker at the homestead.
The caretaker briefly left to collect a cellphone from a neighbour’s house, leaving the visitor behind.
But when he returned, the guest had vanished and so had two prized road runners.
Realising the birds had flown the coop without actually flying, the caretaker alerted the owner and a police report was made.
For two weeks the chicken mystery simmered.
Then on May 20, neighbourhood residents caught up with the suspected poultry pirate and handed him over to police.
Unfortunately for the complainant, the chickens were long gone, having already completed their final journey from the run to the pot.
The total value stolen was US$21 and nothing was recovered.
derick.khumalo