Harare thief fainted in court after being sentenced 10-years in jail for stealing US$40 cables

A HARARE man collapsed in court yesterday when he was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for stealing telecommunication cables worth US$40.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services officials administered first aid to Tinashe Mundenda who told Harare regional magistrate Letwin Rwodzi that he was feeling dizzy shortly after hearing his sentence.

Mundenda pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was sentenced to ten years imprisonment, the mandatory sentence for vandalising telecommunication infrastructure.

The complainant was represented by Rodger Gwenjere, the TelOne Loss Control Officer. The State, represented by Loveit Muringwa, said on Thursday, at around 7am Mundenda, who was carrying a small travelling bag, was spotted roaming around suspiciously by the informant, Tafadzwa Waile.

The informant approached Mundenda and he attempted to flee from the scene but was caught.Upon searching the bag, the informant recovered some cables suspected to be TelOne cables and a bolt cutter.

The informant notified the police leading to his arrest.

The recovered cables were identified by Gwenjere as TelOne property.

The property is worth US$40.