Woman, 62, caged for theft

Noleen Makhurane, Court Reporter
A 62-YEAR-OLD woman has begun a five-month prison term for stealing $2,816 from a burial society.

Mazama Burial Society last year dragged Priscilla Dube to court for embezzling the funds. At the time, Dube pleaded guilty and a court sentenced her to 12 months in prison.

Six months were suspended on condition she reimbursed the burial society before October 30 last year.

The remaining six months were suspended on condition she does not commit a similar crime in the next five years.

On Thursday, she told magistrate Tinashe Tashaya that she only managed to repay $460.

“I only paid $460 in August last year and approached the court in October to extend the period for payment,” said Dube.

The court granted Dube’s request and extended her time to April 21. “I’ve failed to raise the money I stole and don’t have any source of income. I’ll not be able to pay back the money,” she said.

Magistrate Tashaya struck a month off the initial six months that were suspended because Dube had paid $460.