Worker Jailed for Stealing US$12k from Employer

 

A former employee has been sentenced to 40 months in jail after being convicted of stealing thousands of dollars from his manager, the Mbare Magistrates’ Court has heard.

Eric Chamunorwa (27) was found guilty of theft after repeatedly taking money from his employer’s office over an extended period. The court suspended six months of the sentence for five years, while a further 18 months were suspended on condition that he restitutes the complainant.

According to court proceedings, the complainant, a manager at the company where Chamunorwa was employed, began noticing unexplained losses of cash from his office between March 2025 and February 2026. This prompted an internal investigation.

To identify the culprit, the manager laid a trap by leaving a bag containing US$220 in his office before briefly stepping out. When he returned, only a US$100 note remained inside the bag.

Chamunorwa was subsequently searched, and the missing money was found in his pocket. He later admitted to stealing from the manager over a prolonged period.

The court heard that Chamunorwa used the stolen funds to buy luxury items. In total, he stole US$12 430, with only US$2 500 recovered.