The ManicaPost
Weekender Correspondent
A HARARE-based haulage truck driver who drained and stole 1 000 litres of fuel from his employer’s vehicle and went on to fill the fuel tank with water thereby damaging the vehicle’s engine will spent the next 12 months in prison.
Victor Mushonga (35) pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and malicious damage to property charges when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Miss Nyasha Kuture last Thursday.
Mushonga contravened Section 113 (1) (a) and Section 40 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:30 respectively.
Public Prosecutor, Mr Fletcher Karombe, told the court that the suspect is employed as a haulage truck driver by Masroom Investments.
On April 5, his truck’s two tanks were filled with 1000 litres of diesel meant for two trips to Beira in Mozambique from Harare and the return journey.
However, on the same day the suspect arrived in Mutare and drained fuel from the reserve tank and loaded the same tank with water. He proceeded to Mozambique.
On April 12, he returned from Mozambique loaded with cooking oil in his tanker but the truck started experiencing mechanical problems. His employer, Namaja Chembekezo, received information that the suspect had drained fuel from the truck.
He drove from Harare to Mutare to inspect his vehicle.
“He went to Road Motor Services where he met the suspect. The reserve tank was tested using water finding paste which tested positive confirming that the tank had water and small amounts of diesel.
“By putting water in the tank the suspect maliciously damaged the injectors and the injection pump of the horse. Total value of the stolen diesel is $580 while damage caused to the horse is worth $5 580,” said Mr Karombe.
On both counts, Mushonga was slapped with a 34 month jail term.
Miss Kuture however set aside nine months on condition of good behaviour while 13 more months were also suspended on condition that he restitutes his employer of $6 160 before May 30, 2017.
In passing sentence, Miss Kuture said it was the court’s mandate to keep first offenders like Mushonga out of jail and treat them with leniency. She however, said Mushonga had committed two serious offences on the same day.
“You breached the trust that was bestowed on you by your employer and stole the fuel, replaced it with water, thereby damaging the vehicle.
“You deserve nothing other than a custodial sentence so that you get rehabilitation,” she said.
He will serve an effective 12 months imprisonment.
