A GOOD Samaritan, who assisted a 78-year-old Marondera man with his EcoCash transaction and memorised the PIN number before stealing money, was yesterday sentenced to 15 months in prison by Marondera magistrate Patience Chirimo, who found him guilty of theft charges.
BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
Tatenda Ngondiyani (26) of Mhembwe Farm in Marondera pleaded guilty to charges of stealing from his neighbour, Ranganai Masika, through transferring money from the latter’s EcoCash account into his own.
He will, however, perform 245 hours of community service after four months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while the other four months were suspended on condition that he restitutes Masika his money.
According to court papers, sometime in July, Masika sought assistance to transfer his funds from his POSB account into his EcoCash wallet before sending some of it to his relatives.
On July 24, Ngondiyani, who knew the PIN, then transferred $102 from Masika’s mobile money account into his own. Using the same modus operandi, the accused transferred more money into his wallet on three different occasions.
The matter came to light when Masika obtained an EcoCash statement and realised the theft.
The total amount of the money stolen was $318 and nothing was recovered. Marvelous Machacha represented the State.
