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Court Reporter
A 28-year-old Harare man was on Monday convicted and sentenced to six months in prison for stealing property worth $3 500. Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe sentenced Tichaona Karimbauta to 24 months in prison, but suspended six months of the sentence for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence during that period.

Mr Mahwe also suspended 12 months of the sentence on condition that Karimbauta pays restitution of $3 500 by February 27.

The magistrate said failure to restitute on the stipulated date will result in Karimbauta serving 18 months.

In passing sentence, Mr Mahwe stated that although Karimbauta was a first offender, a custodial sentence was appropriate as the rate of similar offenses was high.

“You are a first offender and you have not wasted the courts’ time by pleading guilty. However, you committed a very serious offence and you deserve to be locked up,” he said.

Allegations are that sometime in September last year, Karimbauta gained access to Percy Nhira’s garage and took an electric booster, water pump, grinder, shovel and four suitcases of various clothing.

The property stolen was worth $3 500.

Ms Francisca Mukumbiri prosecuted.