Zimpost ex-worker appeal upheld

Raymond Hungwe (30) had pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud before a Gwanda provincial magistrate and was sentenced to six years in jail of which one year was conditionally suspended for five years.
Not happy with the sentence, Hungwe through his lawyer, Mr Thompson Mabhikwa, of Mabhikwa, Hikwa and Nyathi filed a notice of appeal against sentence arguing the sentence was too harsh.
Justice Lawrence Kamocha sitting with Justice Martin Makonese upheld the appeal and substituted the sentence of the trial court with a fine of $300 (or 30 days in prison). In addition six months in prison were wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The State represented by Ms Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, of the Attorney General’s Office had conceded that the sentence imposed is manifestly excessive and induces a sense of shock.
It was also accepted that the magistrate did not give reasons in the record for the reason he arrived at the sentence that he did.
The State case was that between 30 April and 26 May 2010, six Zimpost customers came on different dates to pay for their telephone bills.
Hungwe would either give them old receipts or alter figures in the copies that remained in the office.