Salesman steals $3 000 from employer

Tendai Gukutikwa

A MUTARE salesman was last week sentenced to seven months imprisonment for stealing $3 627 from his employer.

Moses Mashindi (28) was convicted on his own guilty plea to the charges of theft as defined in Section 113(a)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.

He was convicted by senior Mutare magistrate, Mrs Sekai Chiundura, who ordered him to pay $500 fine and restitute the company $3 627 or risk going to prison for seven months.

Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.

The court heard that Mashindi was employed at Mutare Agricura Depot as a salesman and would sell agri-chemicals and fertilisers. He sold goods worth $10 033,50 and converted $3 627 to his own use.

Said Mr Karombe: “During that period, Mashindi stole cash amounting to $3 627 and 50×45 grammes of accent herbicide.

“He deposited $6 606,50 into the Agricura CBZ account.”

Mr Karombe said on January 26, Mashindi went away without official leave, prompting the director, Mr Paul Gunzo to institute an audit, which unearthed the theft.

A police report was made and Mashindi was arrested on January 30.

Mrs Chiundura said a stiffer penalty was the only thing that could deter Mashindi and anyone who was thinking of breaching the trust that would have been bestowed on them by their employers by stealing.

Said Mrs Chiundura: “Offences of this nature are on the rise and there is need for the law to intervene. A stiffer penalty will deter others from committing a similar offence.”