A 33-YEAR-OLD Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service officer was yesterday sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of stealing decoders worth R4 500.
Mpumelelo Dube, who appeared at the Gwanda Magistrates Court, will, however, serve an effective three-year jail term after two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
According to court papers, on April 13, Dube escorted six inmates to Matson Investments to offload goods.
After offloading the goods, the complainant discovered that various groceries, including five Open View decoders, were missing.
The matter came to light on April 19 when a witness, who was among the inmates and became a beneficiary of the Presidential Amnesty, went to inform the complainant that Dube had stolen the decoders.
A police report was made, leading to the arrest of Dube and the recovery of the decoders.
Total value of the stolen goods is R4 500 and only property valued at R3 600 was recovered.