BY Stephen Chadenga
A 79-YEAR-OLD man from Redcliff was last week arraigned before the courts for destroying property worth thousands of dollars after he failed to control a fire he started while clearing his crop field.
Juaki Smart failed to control the fire which went on to destroy a Telecash booth and property belonging to Caroline Mushayandebvu.
Smart appeared before Kwekwe magistrate, Tayengwa Sangster and was convicted on charges of malicious damage to property.
Sangster sentenced him to four months in prison which he wholly suspended on condition Smart restitutes a total of $3 185, 60 to Mushayandebvu before October 30 this year.
The State case was that on August 13, Smart was preparing his crop field by burning shrubs along Rutendo Road near Chemhere Business Centre.
The fire, however, went out of control following a sudden gust of wind and ended up razing a Telecash booth and property belonging to Mushayandebvu, who reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.
