Mahommed Mussa US$195k theft employee pleads guilt...

Mahommed Mussa US$195k theft employee pleads guilty

Zim Now Writer

The man who led a Pfumgwe family to literally have food snatched from their mouths when police stopped lobola proceedings and confisticated lobola groceries and cash pleaded guitly to US195 000 theft when he appeared in court yesterday.

Chamunorwa Muvhuti, 40, was arrested by detectives on Christmas while paying lobola in the Pfungwe area of Mashonaland East Province. He stands accused of stealing US$195 000 from Mahomed Mussa Wholesalers where he is employed as a merchandiser.

His would be in-laws were baffled when detectives pounced on him during the abortive ceremony.

Muvhuti appeared before Apollonia Marutya at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts where he pleaded guilty to the theft charge and was remanded in custody to today for sentencing.

The thieving merchandiser told the court that stole because he was not paid enough by his employer.

It is the State’s case that on December 21 around 1700 hours, Muvhuti was on duty and acted in common purpose with Jeremiah Kwenda and Phineas Moyo, security guards at Mohammed Mussa Wholesalers.

Muvhuti, the court heard, hid in the shop and was locked inside while others went home after duty.

He used a sharp metal object to dislodge a black portable safe which was mounted to the wall and took away the safe containing US$195 000.

On December 22, the complainant discovered the offence and made a police report. On Christmas day, detectives arrested Muvhuti in Mupande Village, Chief Chitsungo, Pfungwe where he had gone to pay lobola.

The court heard that, Muvhuti led the police to recovery of US$186 100 at his Chitungwiza residence.

He also led the police to the recovery of a black portable safe that was positively identified by the complainant.

Muvhuti is said to have paid US$4 426 as lobola to his in-laws, leading to recovery of US$3 501 from the Mupande family.

He had used US$340 to purchase groceries for lobola proceedings and goods valued at US$250 were recovered from his in-laws.

The detectives also recovered some of the stolen money.