A cattle rustler who is serving time in jail and was expected to come out later this year has been slapped with an additional 10 years for stealing eight beasts.
Apart from last Thursday’s conviction, the 41-year-old man from Bushpark in Esigodini is still expected to appear in court for yet another case of stock-theft.
Paul Ncube pleaded not guilty to stocktheft charges when he appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Magistrate Tancy Dube last week.
However, the magistrate convicted and sentenced him to 18 years in jail four of which were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
A further four years were suspended on condition he restitutes the complainant to the sum of $2 400 by January 31, 2013 through the clerk of court.
It was the State case that on February 4, 2009 Ncube, in the company of Mgcinimuzi Mathe and Bongani Nyathi, who are still at large, went to Plot Number 7 at Lungile Farm in Fort Rixon where the complainant Eugene Ramachala Ndlovu lives.
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They selected eight beasts from his kraal and drove them to Ncube’s place at Esigodini where they sold them and shared the spoils.
The value of the stolen cattle was $2 400 and nothing was recovered.
Ndlovu made a report to the police and Ncube was brought to court from prison to face the new charges. Ncube has another pending case of stock-theft in the courts.