By Thokozani Mazibuko
An employee of businessman Robert Kirk has been arrested for stealing 80 bags of cement from the businessman worth E9 600.
Felix Mzwandile Gumedze (43) of the Siteki area was arrested alongside Jabulani Nkambule of Nyalinyali (41) who was employed by Kirk’s business associate.
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This comes after Nkambule was alleged to have used a truck belonging to Kirk’s business associate, who was only identified as Sussman to transport the stolen cement.
The partners in crime appeared at the Matsapha Circuit Court before senior Magistrate Nonhlanhla Dlamini.
They were charged with theft, an offence they committed on February 3, 2024, in the Matsapha area in the Manzini district.
According to the charge sheet, the said accused persons each or both acting jointly in the furtherance of a common purpose, did wrongfully, unlawfully, and intentionally steal 80 bags of cement valued at E9 600, the property in the lawful possession of Robert Kirk and thus commit the said offence.
They both elected to conduct their defence when their rights to legal representation were explained to them and pleaded guilty to the offence as soon as the charge was read to them.
They were, therefore, found guilty as per their pleas.
Gumedze pleaded for a lenient sentence because he had four children that were dependent on him.
Nkambule on the other hand, pleaded for a lenient sentence on the basis that he was not aware that the bags of cement were stolen goods.
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Gumedze was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of E6 000, while Nkambule was sentenced to a custodial sentence of one year.
However, his (Nkambule’s) sentence was wholly suspended for three years because he was not found to have committed a similar offence within that period.
