adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A BULILIMA man who was recently released from prison on a presidential amnesty has been arrested after he allegedly broke into a neighbour’s house and stole a blanket.
Mimina Ncube, 28, of Ntoli area was in November last year sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for unlawful entry and theft, but was pardoned late last month.
Ncube pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry, theft and malicious damage to property charges when he appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon.
He was remanded in custody to today for trial.
Prosecuting, Stanley Chinyanganya said Ncube allegedly broke into Queen Mpofu’s homestead on May 28 around 3AM. The following day, he allegedly went to Abednico’s Ndlovu’s homestead and destroyed a door to his bedroom hut.
“On 28 May around 3AM Ncube proceeded to Mpofu’s homestead and he forced open the door to her bedroom hut and gained entry while she was sleeping in another room.
“He searched around the room and took a 2 in 1 purple and white blanket which was on the bed. He left everything scattered on the ground and disappeared into the darkness,’’ said Chinyanganya.
He said Mpofu woke up later that morning and discovered that her door was wide open and a blanket was missing.
Chinyanganya said Mpofu alerted some neighbours who tracked foot prints of the culprit and they led them to Ncube. He said the value of the stolen blanket was R430 and it was recovered.
“On 29 May around 1AM Ncube proceeded to another neighbour, Abednico Ndlovu’s homestead armed with an axe. He went to Ndlovu’s bedroom hut and struck the door with the axe and fled into the darkness after realising that Ndlovu had seen him,’’ said Chinyanganya.
He said hours later, Ndlovu and some villagers found Ncube asleep at a nearby bridge.
He was apprehended and handed over to the police.
Chinyanganya said the value of the damage is R900.
Online Reporter