Woman conned

The three, Austin Zvavashe (43), Ephraim Nkomo (47) and Nelson Chikota (28), all from Mkoba 13 who asked the complainant to surrender all her belongings after they promised to offer her a job, were later arrested after being positively identified.

The trio was yesterday hauled before Gweru magistrate Mrs Florence Nago facing theft charges. They pleaded guilty to the charge and were sentenced to 12 months in prison. Four months from each were suspended on condition of good behaviour. The other three months were suspended on condition that they pay $443 restitution to the complainant, Mrs Judith Mbonani.

For the State, Mr Justos Makwena told the court that on 12 December at Wimpy Service Station in Gweru, Mrs Mbonani was walking towards Gweru Government Complex when the three approached her.

Mr Makwena said the three then told the complainant that they were looking for a person to guard their vehicle while they conducted some business in the central business district.

The three had indicated that the “guard” would be paid $30 for the service. Mr Makwena said Mrs Mbonani agreed to the offer and was then instructed by the three to surrender all her belongings including cash.

The three then produced an envelope, which they asked Mrs Mbonani to put her money, two cellphones before they signed on top of the envelope to confirm the contents in it.

Mr Makwena said the three then quickly returned the envelop to Mrs Mbonani who then discovered that her money had been replaced by some old Zimbabwean dollars. The two cell- phones were also missing. Mr Makwena said when Mrs Mbonani tried to ask from the three, they fled from the scene resulting in her giving a chase while shouting for help. Members of the public then intervened and apprehended one of the three, Nkomo, before handing him over to the police.

Zvavashe and Chikota were later arrested by the police following some follow ups.