By Simbarashe Sithole
A 27-YEAR-OLD Kwekwe man was yesterday slapped with a one-year jail term for grabbing a woman’s handbag and trampling on it before resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer following a dispute over a broken beer bottle.
Loid Chanhanga (27) of Mbizo in Kwekwe pleaded guilty to malicious damage to property and assault charges before magistrate Story Rushambwa slapped him with a 12-month jail term. Two months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while 10 remained effective.
Prosecutor Freddy Ndoro told the court that on Tuesday and at OK Supermarket in Kwekwe, Chanhanga unlawfully and intentionally grabbed a handbag and a hat belonging to Patience Shambare after she mistakenly broke his beer bottle. He destroyed goods worth $150 during the scuffle.
Chanhanga went berserk despite Shambare apologising. The convict further resisted arrest by a police officer and assaulted him twice on the face twice.
It took the courage of a passer-by to help apprehend the violent Chanhanga who was subsequently force-marched to the police station.
The police officer sustained a swollen face and pains in the chest.
A medical report was produced in court and taken as exhibit.
