Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A SELF-STYLED Bulawayo prophet has found himself in trouble after allegedly performing “cleansing rituals” on stolen money and taking a share of the loot.
Richard Mutare (51) appeared in court on Saturday and yesterday before Harare magistrate Mr Tapiwa Banda, facing theft charges.
Mutare yesterday pleaded guilty before Harare provincial magistrate Ms Lisah Mutendereki. He was initially sentenced to six years imprisonment, but will serve effective three years.
Two years were suspended for restitution and an additional year was suspended on condition of good behaviour.
His alleged accomplices, Mathew Limbani Ndovi, a gardener, and his girlfriend, Loice Taruvinga, who are represented by lawyer Mr Tafadzwa Muvhami remain in custody pending their bail ruling. They appeared in court on Friday charged with unlawful entry.
Prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Jambawu told the court that the incident began in July when Ndovi exploited his employer’s trust. The complainant, who was selling her house, had left Ndovi in charge of assisting potential clients.
On one occasion, Ndovi attempted to steal from the complainant’s office, but abandoned his plan after noticing a functional CCTV system.
The court heard that he then disabled the electricity main breaker in the kitchen and returned to disable the CCTV cameras. However, his search for cash proved fruitless. The big break came on August 3 when the complainant went into Harare’s central business district to pay medical bills for her ailing husband, Innocent Bangure.
Ndovi found the spare keys hanging on a bedroom door and used them to access the office where he found a small cardboard box hidden in a cupboard.
Inside was US$75 000 in cash, proceeds from the complainant’s farm sales.
After stealing the money, Ndovi bend a small portion of the box to create the illusion that the cash had been destroyed.
He then wrapped the money in a plastic bag and left.
On August 29, the complainant returned to the office to retrieve cash for farm expenses, but was shocked to find the box partially burnt and empty.
Following investigations, CID Highlands detectives arrested Ndovi at his workplace.
A total of US$22 600 has been recovered so far by the police.
