A man who was nabbed for unlawful entry was on Friday sentenced to 22 months in prison when he appeared before a Chitungwiza magistrate facing another charge of stealing a policewoman’s identity card.
by staff reporter
Willard Mutasa (33) of Unit A in Seke had six months of his sentence suspended on condition that he restitutes $440 to the complainant, who is his neighbour, before August 31.
Another 10 months were suspended on condition that he performs 350 hours of community service at Makoni Police Station and the remaining six months on condition of good behaviour.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) identity document that was found in Mutasa’s possession was confiscated while he was acquitted of the theft charges levelled against him.
Allegations against Mutasa arose after he was accused of unlawful entry when he was seen at night coming from his neighbour’s house.
Florence Mafemera of Unit A, Seke, alleged that following the incident, she lost her property including cellphones, money and a laptop.
Prosecutor Innocent Tizirai told the court that on June 8, Mafemera retired to bed after securing her property by locking the doors and closing the windows.
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During the night, the accused person allegedly forced open the complainant’s back door leading to the passage and stole a Samsung cellphone, which was on the charger and a mini laptop.
Mutasa allegedly went to the complainant’s bedroom and stole two cellphones and a grey handbag, which was on the cupboard. Mafemera woke up and saw the accused whom she positively identified since the house was well lit.
The complainant noticed that Mutasa had stolen her grey handbag, two Samsung Galaxy cellphones, ZTE Maxx cellphone and mini laptop whose total value was R5 500.
Nothing was recovered.
Tizirai told the court that when police details were conducting a search at the accused’s house following Mafemera’s police report, they came across Moreblessing Dube’s ZRP ID leading to Mutasa’s second charge of theft.
It is the State’s case that Dube of 4415 Old Highfield, Harare, had her wallet containing theidentity card stolen by the accused.
Sometime in April 2014 and at around 1500 hours, the State said the complainant boarded a commuter omnibus, whose registration number she cannot remember, from Unit C junction in Seke to Machipisa.
She was in possession of her brown wallet containing her ZRP ID with the force number 984388L.
At around 1700 hours, when the complainant disembarked from the commuter omnibus, she realised that her brown wallet containing the ZRP identity document was missing.
On June 9, 2015 detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department in Chitungwiza arrested Mutasa for unlawful entry cases and he was found in possession of the ZRP ID belonging to Dube.
Mutasa failed to account for the ID when he was interrogated.
