Four Kwekwe-based women were last week convicted of theft of goods worth $176 from TM North supermarket in Chinhoyi.
The four — Wadzanai Phiri (24), Ruth Phiri (25), Shine Chigiyegiye (29) and Hamunyari Chigiyegiye (26) appeared before magistrate Patience Chirimo at the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court. The four denied the charges.
It is the State’s case that on October 29 2011, the four got into TM supermarket pretending to be genuine customers. The women later sneaked out with three two litre bottles of cooking oil, 48 tablets of Dettol bath soap, 13 packets of Cremora powder milk (500g), five tablets of Protex bathing soap, 400ml Sunbeam cobra, two Nan-milk (400g), Lactogen milk (500g) and a 330ml can of Coke with a total value of $176.
The matter got to TM officials through an anonymous caller before security officers made a follow-up that led to the recovery of the goods, packed in a 50kg sack, leading to the arrest of the four women at Alaska bus terminus in Chinhoyi.
They were all denied bail and remanded in custody to today for sentence. Defence lawyer Patience Nyaubwa represented the four while Lovemore Balani prosecuted.
