Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Reporter
A 37-year-old Bulawayo man has been arrested for illegally possessing and attempting to sell TelOne copper cables valued at US$12.
Walter Magodo of Tshabalala suburb appeared before Western Commonage Regional Magistrate, Mr Pasipanodya Maturure, facing a charge of possessing material or apparatus used for the distribution of communication signals. He was remanded in custody to November 18.
Prosecuting, Ms Cathrine Manyika told the court that the incident occurred on October 17.
On that day, detectives from CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Bulawayo received information that the accused was in possession of copper wires and was actively seeking a buyer in Kelvin Industries.
The court heard that one of the detectives obtained Magodo’s phone number, called him and posed as a potential buyer. The accused and the detective agreed to meet at the intersection of Tshabalala Drive and Masiyephambili Road in Kelvin Industries.
Magodo went to the agreed location and met with the detectives, who identified themselves and requested to search him, said Ms Manyika.
During the search, the accused attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended by alert detectives. They recovered burnt copper wires from a small sack he was carrying. Magodo was asked to produce a permit or licence, which he failed to do, leading to his arrest.
The detectives later called engineers from TelOne Main Exchange for identification, and they confirmed the burnt copper wires were deformed underground copper cables used in the transmission of communication signals.
The identified TelOne copper cables were taken to ZimPost for weighing in the presence of the accused and weighed 0,6 kilogrammes, said Ms Manyika.
The total value of the cables is US$12, and all were recovered, she added.
