Man in Court for Stealing US$70k from Employer

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

A 34-year-old man, Bright Katsatsa, has appeared before Magistrate Isheunesu Matova facing charges of unlawful entry under aggravating circumstances after allegedly stealing US$70 000 in cash and a luxury wristwatch worth US$7 000 from his employer's safe.

The complainant, Joris Pierre Yves Philippe, a sales manager at ADDAX Energy Zimbabwe, had entrusted Katsatsa, who was also his employee, with keys to his home, car, and safe while he traveled to South Africa on December 19. Before leaving, Philippe had reportedly secured the money in a safe mounted inside a cupboard in his bedroom.

According to prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, Katsatsa took advantage of his employer's absence to access the safe. Using the keys in his possession, he allegedly unlocked the house, opened the safe, and took the cash. Katsatsa then relocked the safe and left the premises, but his actions did not go unnoticed. Security guard Kuzivakwashe Mavurume testified to seeing Katsatsa entering and exiting the house.

On December 24, Katsatsa allegedly took Philippe's car without permission and drove it to his residence in Goromonzi, returning it on December 27. To cover his tracks, he filed a false report with the police, claiming that there had been a break-in at Philippe's house and only US$15 had been stolen.

When Philippe returned from South Africa on January 3, he discovered that the safe was empty, with both the cash and his IWC Automatic wristwatch missing. He immediately reported the theft to the police. Investigators found no evidence of a break-in, directly contradicting Katsatsa’s earlier claims. Further inquiries led to Katsatsa's arrest, during which detectives discovered the stolen safe key on his keychain.

Katsatsa has been remanded in custody, and the stolen property, totaling US$77 000, remains unaccounted for as the case unfolds in court.