Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve,Victoria Falls Reporter
A 58-year-old local Victoria Falls painter was sentenced to 10 months in prison after he admitted to stealing US$4 838 that was erroneously deposited into his bank account by CABS Bank.
Christopher Ndlovu of Chidobe Village appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Mr Tafara Machaya facing charges of theft on Tuesday.
The court heard that Ndlovu systematically withdrew the money over a two-week period after the bank made a clerical error, crediting his account with US$6 435 on 15 October 2025.
Prosecutor Mr Douglas Ntini told the court how Ndlovu committed the crime.
“On the period extending from 16 October 2025 to 29 October and at CABS BANK, Victoria Falls, Christopher Ndlovu unlawfully took cash amounting to US$4838-00 erroneously deposited in his CABS Account number (withheld) by Cabs Bank,” said Mr Ntini.
The court heard that Ndlovu, a customer of the bank and an employee at a local hotel, made a series of withdrawals from the mistakenly deposited funds instead of notifying the bank of the error.
“The offence came to light on the 31 October 2025 when Luckmore Dube discovered the error and phoned the accused person to reimburse the funds and he did not,” said Mr Ntini.
This led to a police report and Ndlovu’s subsequent arrest.
In mitigation, Ndlovu, a first-time offender, pleaded for leniency, stating that he used the money to solve pressing domestic issues.
However, Magistrate Machaya emphasised the need for deterrent sentences for such offences.
Ndlovu was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment.
However, three months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
A further seven months were suspended on condition that he restitutes the complainant, CABS Bank US$4 838.
