A 25-YEAR-OLD gold panner from Sotshangane flats Nguboyenja in Bulawayo has been sentenced to a 24-month prison term for stealing 27 mobile phones worth US$1 200.
Junior Raymond Sibanda pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate on Wednesday.
Four months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. Four months were also suspended on conditions that Sibanda restitutes the owner of the gadgets.
The complainant in the matter is Keen Gapare, owner of Keen Dotcom.
Sibanda is a gold panner at one of the local Mines in Bulawayo.
It is the State’s case that on March 11 at 3am, Sibanda went to Gapare’s phone shop located in Nouk building along Herbert Chitepo and 5th Avenue.
He opened a burglar door using an unknown object and entered the shop.
The court heard that Sibanda stole 27 mobile handsets and other accessories.
Gapare made a police report and an investigation led to Sibanda’s arrest.
The total value of gadgets stolen is US$1 200.