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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
An unrepentant thief who was in the habit of breaking into people’s cars and stealing valuables, was yesterday jailed for an effective 18 months.
Tafadzwa Foroma (22) was sent back to prison by magistrate Ms Tilda Mazhande who convicted him of theft.
Foroma was last year convicted of a similar charge and was slapped with a jail term.
However, part of his prison term was set aside for five years on condition he would not commit a similar offence within that period.
Ms Mazhande yesterday sentenced him to 18 months in prison before setting aside four months on condition of good behaviour.
Four months of Foroma’s sentence, which were previously set aside, were brought into effect.
He will serve an effective 18 months in prison.
In passing the sentence, Ms Mazhande said: “You were convicted in September last year and barely seven months later, you committed a similar offence. Perpetrators of this kind of offence are not usually apprehended and it is fortunate that you were caught in the act.
“You travelled all the way from Epworth to Harare International Airport where you committed this offence. It shows that it was pre-meditated hence there is no way you can escape a jail term. The fact that the previous jail term did not stop you from committing this offence shows you are unrepentant.”
In aggravation, prosecutor Ms Molleen Murozvi urged the court to impose a custodial sentence.
Ms Murozvi proved that on April 3 the complainant parked his Toyota Hiace at Kentucky Prisons near the airport and went to see a friend at the nearby houses.
Foroma broke into the car and after some minutes the complainant returned and noticed that someone had broken into his vehicle.
He noticed that a rear right sliding window had been shattered and two Pioneer speakers, radio and battery had been stolen.
Foroma was caught while still in the vicinity.
Online Reporter