A JUDICIAL Services Commission (JSC) employee in Gokwe was convicted of theft and fraud involving over $2 300 and slapped with an effective 14 months’ imprisonment.
SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Sibongile Msungatai (34) pleaded not guilty to theft by conversion and fraud when she appeared before Gokwe magistrate Judith Taruvinga on Monday, but was convicted on all counts and sentenced to 24 months.
However, four months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour and a further six months were suspended on condition that she restitutes the complainant $980.
Msungatai was ordered to pay back that money by June 30.
Prosecutor Tineyi Tirigo told the court that Msungatai was employed by the JSC as an office orderly at the Gokwe Magistrates’ Court.
It was the State’s case that sometime in June 2013, Philip Mujuru and Sylvester Hamadziripi were convicted by the Gokwe Magistrates’ Court and ordered to pay $980.
On July 25, Msungatai contacted Felix Mujuru, the brother of Philip, demanding that he brings the money urgently to court.
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Maria Fambisi, the mother to Philip, went and paid $980, but was not issued a receipt.
On October 23, Hamadziripi was arrested for failing to pay restitution in time, but an inquiry was conducted and it established that Msungatai received the money and converted it to her own use.
Msungatai later on demanded $1 400 from Mujuru and Hamadziripi misrepresenting that the Fanad Cotton Company they had been convicted of defrauding had brought another request that they repay the amount.
However, investigations showed that there was no such money demanded from the duo and Msungatai was arrested.
