… refuses to answer questions in court
By Kelvin Kasiwulaya
The notorious 81 year- old thief, Shingirai Mugabe who was recently arrested for stealing a laptop from Gweru Townhouse, was remanded in custody this Friday after he refused to answer questions in court.
Mugabe who appeared before Gweru Resident Magistrate Progress Murandu facing charges of theft and unlawful entry was remanded to the 3rd of October 2022.
The octogenarian who had been offered a lighter sentence of community service refused to provide his residential and professional details to members of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) who wanted to allocate him a workplace.
Before the dramatic incident, Mugabe had admitted in court that he committed the crime, however, he cited that he was under the influence of alcohol. He also revealed that he stole the digital device for his grandchild who recently enrolled at a local university.
“Your worship I’m very sorry and I deeply regret what I did. actually that day I was drunk and this prompted me to steal the laptop. I wanted to give that device to my grandchild who is in university, he always begged me to buy him a laptop and I could not afford it, which is why I decided to steal from Townhouse.
Prosecuting, Melodious Kavenga told the court that on the 28th of September 2022, Mugabe sneaked into Mr Japson Nemuseso’ office during lunchtime and stole an HP laptop.
“Mugabe who had successfully sneaked out with the digital device was later seen and caught by council officials before he could leave the council premises leading to his instant incarceration,” said Kavenga.
She told the court that, Mugabe was a first-time offender.
Begging for a mitigated sentence, Mugabe told the court that, he was taking care of his orphaned grandchildren at his residential home, he also revealed that he had only USD$9,00 to his name and 7 cattle.
However, Mugabe’s criminal troubles are far from over, as the police, are looking forward to arrest him again on Monday, for other theft charges.
The 81 year- old will soon face the magistrate again for allegedly stealing an iPhone and a laptop from Zimbabwe Family Planning (ZFP) Gweru offices, early this year.
As if that is not enough, Mugabe is suspected to have stolen another laptop from Masvingo Townhouse, the digital gadget stolen belonged to a Masvingo City Council Engineer, reports on social media claim. #The Sun
