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Arubi gets prison sentence over maintenance

Sport
Warriors’ number one goalkeeper Washington Arubi was yesterday given a four-month suspended prison term over defaulting on paying maintenance for the upkeep of his two children.

Warriors’ number one goalkeeper Washington Arubi was yesterday given a four-month suspended prison term over defaulting on paying maintenance for the upkeep of his two children.

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

The former Dynamos goalkeeper, now turning out for South Africa Premier Soccer League club University of Pretoria, was arrested on Saturday in Mutare and spent two days in custody at the Central Police Station before he appeared at the magistrates’ court yesterday.

arubi

Arubi appeared before magistrate Poterai Gwezhira and through his lawyer, pleaded guilty to the charge.

He was sentenced to four months behind bars, but the sentence was wholly suspended on condition that he pays the outstanding amount by June 30 next year.

According to State papers, Arubi defaulted paying $4 914 to Jesca Tatenda Nyandoro (26) for his two sons (names withheld) the whole of this year.

It was the State case that on January 30, 2015, at Mutare Civil Court, the accused person was ordered to pay $650 per month for the upkeep of his two sons. The accused, however, defaulted in some of the months, while for the other durations, he paid half instalments.

Arubi’s lawyer Farai Matinhure of Gonese and Ndlovu Legal Practitioners, in mitigation, said his client was committed to pay the maintenance, adding that the goalkeeper was the sole breadwinner in his family.

“Things are not well in South Africa as we are all aware and my client is a first offender. The fact that he paid in some of the months, and on other months he paid half the figure, shows that he was serious and committed to maintaining his children,” Matinhure said.

“My client is also responsible for the upkeep of his parents and siblings and if he is locked up, his dependants will suffer,’’ the lawyer added.

Arubi drew laughter in the courtroom when he told magistrate Gwezhira he suffered a lot in the police cells due to flea bites.

Walter Saunyama prosecuted.