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Driving school instructor swindles employer of $13 200

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A 48-YEAR-OLD driving instructor based in Zvishavane has approached the High Court seeking stay of restitution after he was convicted of theft and ordered to pay $10 000 restitution to his employer, Comit Driving School.

A 48-YEAR-OLD driving instructor based in Zvishavane has approached the High Court seeking stay of restitution after he was convicted of theft and ordered to pay $10 000 restitution to his employer, Comit Driving School.

BY CHARLES LAITON

Taurai Njave is appealing a lower court order compelling him to pay back $10 000 in driving lessons fees he was found guilty of converting to his own use.

The court had also slapped him with a $2 000 fine or in default of payment, 18 months’ imprisonment for pocketing $13 200 which he received from trainee drivers.

However, his appeal hearing was deferred to May 6 after Justice Felistus Chatukuta said the magistrate’s handwriting was not readable and ordered the State representative Editor Mavuto to ensure the court record was transcribed before the next hearing date.

According to the court papers, Njave was employed by Nathan Shoko of Zvishavane as an instructor at Comit Driving School. The court heard, during the period extending from January 2012 to April 2013, Njave conducted 997 driving tests sessions with learner drivers, which information was recorded at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) in Zvishavane.

However, contrary to what was recorded at the VID, Njave is alleged to have recorded in his employer’s log sheet that he had conducted 733 driving sessions at the VID.

Upon suspecting that his records were not being properly managed, it is alleged, Shoko proceeded to the VID and verified with their records and it was then discovered that Njave’s vehicle (a lorry) had been recorded 997 times contrary to his record of 733 times.

The matter was then referred to the police, leading to Njave’s arrest.

Shoko claims he was prejudiced a total of $13 200 out of the 264 unrecorded lessons because each lesson would cost $50.

Njave is represented by Cathew Manyani.