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AN unrepentant second-hand clothes smuggler was last Friday sentenced to an effective four-month jail term.
Tatenda Musanda (34) of Harare, who first appeared in court in August last year facing the same offence, was convicted by senior Mutare magistrateMrs Sekai Chiundura.
She was nabbed at Mutare Railway Station by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department in the process of transporting smuggled second-hand clothes to Harare.
Prosecuting, Mr Donald Mudadirwa said Musanda was arrested at Mutare Railway Station around 9pm as she was about to transport her smuggled second-hand clothes to Harare.
“The accused was found in possession of a bale of second-hand clothes and two sacks full of clothes by detectives who had received a tip-off that smuggled clothes were about to be transported to Harare by train,” said Mr Mudadirwa
Mutanda admitted that she was not a first offender as she had been convicted of a similar offence in August.
On her previous conviction, she was sentenced to five months imprisonment of which two months where wholly suspended on condition that she paid a fine.
Despite plea of guilty and forgiveness, she was sentenced to four months imprisonment.
“You are sentenced to four months imprisonment of which two months are wholly suspended on the condition that you do not commit the same offence in the next five years. Two months which were suspended last year are now being brought into effect. All in all you are to serve four months,” said Mrs Chiundura.
Online Reporter