adminThe Herald, February 15, 1980
A SALISBURY Magistrates Court heard yesterday how a pick-up truck valued at $4 000 was stolen in Salisbury on a Friday night and was found in Rusape the next morning – with a new coat of paint.
Simon Bernard Kudumba, of Egypt Lines, Highfield, Salisbury, denied stealing the truck from outside Bristol Court, Prince Edward Street.
The magistrate, Mr Leighton Gale, found him guilty and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment.
The truck owner, Mr Conrad Mandike, said he parked the truck outside his home on December 7, a Friday, and later found it was missing. On asking whether anyone had seen the truck someone told him it had been seen in Rusape.
Mr Mandike said that on Saturday morning he went with the police to Rusape where he found the truck being repainted by a Mr Malindi.
Mr Malindi explained that Kudumba had given him the truck to respray at 8:30am.
By the time they found the truck, Mr Mandike said, false number plates and a forged licence disc had been substituted.
On being questioned, Kudumba said he had bought the truck at about 5:30am that morning from two men to whom he had paid $400.
The court was told that the two men could not be traced. Passing sentence, the magistrate said theft of motor vehicles were “disturbingly prevalent”. Mr R Archdeacon prosecuted.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
It is important for people to always consult and seek assistance whenever they encounter difficulties because more often than not, people will have solutions or valuable information on their issues.
Evil deeds that are done under the cover of darkness can never stay hidden forever. They will always come to light.
The theft of motor vehicles has become a problem in the country with the police launching several operations aimed at clamping down on the vice.
Online Reporter