Story by Fungai Jachi
TWO men who broke into a house in Gletwin, Harare, on Christmas Eve and stole property valued at US$8 000 have been sentenced to effective jail terms after being convicted of armed robbery.
Moffat Nyateka (40) and Fact Kunzekutema (22) appeared before Harare magistrate Artwell Sanyatwe on Friday, where they were convicted on their own pleas of guilty.
The court imposed a seven-year prison sentence on each accused, suspending two years for five years on condition of good behaviour. A further two months were suspended on condition that the pair pay restitution, leaving an effective custodial sentence in place.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Sanyatwe said the offence was serious and premeditated, noting that the accused executed the crime with ease and used weapons to intimidate the complainant. He ruled that a custodial sentence was unavoidable in order to serve the interests of justice and deter similar crimes.
According to the facts presented in court, the two men, armed with a knife and a screwdriver, broke into a house in Gletwin on Christmas Eve, tied up the complainant and threatened to stab him before stealing various household items.
The pair later hired a vehicle to transport the stolen property. They were arrested after selling some of the items.
In mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency, telling the court they were desperate for money at the time of the offence.
Takudzwa Mutyavaviri prosecuted.
