Women jailed for stealing US$25K from her mother’s employer

 HARARE woman was on Thursday sentenced to 36 months behind bars after being convicted of stealingUS$25 000 from her mother’s employer.

Harare magistrate Lisa Mutendereki had initially acquitted Noah Defred (55) and Beauty Ushendibaba (53), but convicted Priscilla Gwasira (23).

Musendereki, however, suspended nine months on condition that she does not commit a similar offence, while a further 12 months were suspended on the grounds that they restitute US$17 700 to the complainant.

In her ruling, Musendereki said Gwasira’s accomplices including Ushendibaba, her mother, and Defred were not implicated by the CCTV footage, hence a word of mouth from the convict could not be taken as evidence without proper support.

Defred and Ushendibaba were employed by Ashleigh Kruger, who is the complainant.

It was the State’s case that on May 8 last year, Kruger secured US$25 000 inside a portable safe and put it in a wardrobe in her bedroom.

• New details of ‘Passion Java accident’ emerge
• New details of ‘Passion Java accident’ emerge
• CCTV for Ingutsheni
• Moslem cleric arrested for raping Grade 3 pupil

Between that day and May 17 last year, the trio had connived to steal the money from Kruger.

Defred and Ushendibaba allegedly sneaked Gwasira into Kruger’s bedroom, where she took the cashbox and the three shared the money among themselves.

Unknown to them, their actions were being recorded on CCTV cameras hidden in the room.

Kruger discovered the offence on June 9 last year after checking on the money as she wanted to use it.

The matter was reported at Highlands Police Station.

On June 11 last year, detectives from CID Homicide swooped on Gwasira at her Chitungwiza hideout and arrested her.

She implicated Defred and her mother.

Gwasira indicated that she used part of her share to acquire a motor vehicle, headboard, mattress, clothes and a residential stand in Dema.

According to the State, Gwasira had already built a two-roomed house on the stand.

Police only recovered US$600 from Gwasira. They also recovered US$7 700 from the other two.