10 Irvine’s employees arrested for alleged theft o...

10 Irvine’s employees arrested for alleged theft of chicken cutlets worth US$23k

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

ZIM NOW REPORTER

Ten Irvine’s Zimbabwe employees were arrested on April 21 for allegedly stealing 1 600kgs of plain Texas chicken cutlets valued at US$23 478.40.

The employees, Phillimon Matete, 50, Moses Katsande, 30, Gracious Chitsiga, 23, Lucy Magado, 34, Pelaelo Silagwana, 43, Amos Shari (40, Blessing Mwaemudza, 31, Tendai Muyambo, 25, Benson Gotora, 50, and Prince Mushoriwa, 23, are facing charges of theft as defined in Section 113(1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.

Four others are still at large.

According to the investigating officer, the accused persons hatched a plan on April 13 to steal the chicken cutlets.

“The accused persons, together with four others who are still at large, manufactured a fake Irvine’s Zimbabwe receipt and used it to load the chicken cutlets into a Lumic truck,” read part of the affidavit.

“The truck driver, Panashe, (NFPK) who is also still at large, drove through the security checkpoints using the fake receipt and went to an unknown destination where he disposed of the loot.”

Matete further stated that the alleged theft came to light after an internal audit by Irvine’s Zimbabwe unearthed a discrepancy. “An audit by some internal auditors discovered the variance and instigated an investigation.”

“The investigation revealed the accused persons connived and used a fake receipt dated 10/4/24 to remove meat products valued at US$23 478.40.”

The investigating officer opposed bail for all ten accused persons citing several reasons, including the need to complete investigations and the possibility that the accused persons might abscond court or interfere with witnesses. The case is expected to go to court soon.

The accused persons are represented by Learnmore Kufinya of Takaindisa Law Chambers.