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Lovemore Meya Court Correspondent
A truck driver at Nyati Building Construction and Hardware, who stole 424 boxes of cooking oil valued at $15 386 from his employer by reporting a fake robbery to the police, has been sentenced to effective two-and-a-half years in jail.

Lazarus Mutindori of Budiriro Extension in Harare, was employed by Denias Parirenyatwa, managing director of Nyati Building Construction and Hardware.

Mutindori denied theft charges when he appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mrs Renika Dzikiti on Wednesday, but was convicted after a full trial.

Mutindori was being charged with Charles Mujuruka (29) and Hiwty Jakopo (28) both of Mutangaz Truck Inn, Beatrice.The pair was, however, found not guilty and acquitted after prosecutor Ms Ntombikayise Nleya, failed to prove a case against them.

Mutindori was sentenced to three years behind bars with six months being set aside on condition he pays back $15 334 to the company.

Proven facts are that on June 4 this year, Mutindori was assigned to load 1 250 boxes of 12X2 litres of cooking oil from Pure Oil Company at number 72 Lyton Road in Workington.

He was supposed to take the consignment to Bulawayo.

He, however, hatched a plan to steal it.

The court heard that he drove the truck from Harare to Mutangaz Truck Inn, Beatrice where he met Mujuruka and Jakopo.

They offloaded 424 boxes of the consignment from the haulage truck and loaded them into a smaller truck.

The vehicle was driven to an unknown destination, while Mutindori remained behind tying the contents in his truck.

The following day, Mutindori feigned robbery and went to report the matter to Beatrice Police Station.

Investigations were carried out leading to the arrest of Mujuruka and Jakopo in possession of 14X2 litres of cooking oil.

They indicated that they were given by Mutindori leading to his arrest.

Cooking oil valued at $52 was recovered.