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Court Reporter
THE 37-year-old Nyamandlovu woman who kidnapped a week-old baby belonging to a Mzilikazi woman three months ago, was yesterday sentenced to an effective four years in jail. Sihle Mhlanga, of Dlula Village was convicted on her own plea of guilty to a charge of kidnapping as defined in Section 93(1) of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification Act), Chapter 9:23 by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere.
Mhlanga was sentenced to seven years in jail of which three years were suspended for five years on condition that she does not within that period commit a similar offence.
The prosecutor, Mr Tinashe Dzipe, said on 9 May, the complainant, Ms Nqotshiwe Sibanda met Mhlanga at Mzilikazi Clinic in Bulawayo and she pleaded with her for overnight accommodation.
The complainant agreed to offer Mhlanga a place to sleep and the two went to Ms Sibanda’s house.
The was told that during the night, Mhlanga woke up and stole Ms Sibanda’s newly born baby while the mother was fast asleep and went away unnoticed.
Ms Sibanda later woke up intending to breastfeed her baby during which she discovered that the infant was missing.
Mhlanga fled to Nyamandlovu where she kept the baby for three months before her arrest last week.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo