An employee at Kuwadzana Funeral Parlour in Harare allegedly set his workplace ablaze destroying property worth $80 000 last Friday in an effort to cover up the $1 900 he had stolen from the firm’s safe box.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau said Savias Basi (25) had been arrested for the offence.

Sabau said the suspect had admitted to the police he set the parlour on fire as a cover-up for the offence.

“Savias Basi was working at Kuwadzana Funeral Parlour along Willowvale Road. On Friday, he was on night shift and after collecting money for funeral services which amounted to $1 900, which was in the safe, he then converted it to his own use and set the building alight,” said Sabau.

“The fire destroyed caskets, computers and other goods all valued at $80 000. He then went to Southerton Police Station to alert the police of the incident.”

Sabau said police became suspicious and searched him and recovered the $1 900 which he allegedly failed to account for.

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“After interrogation, he then admitted to setting the parlour on fire,” Sabau said.

Basi will be charged with arson and theft.