Gweru — A former intern at Sino Zimbabwe Cement in Gweru, was last Friday ordered to pay $400, to the company after being convicted on two counts of fraud.
OWN CORRESPONDENT
Edson Ushe (28) of Mkoba 16, Gweru, who was attached to Sino-Zimbabwe as a salaries clerk, was given five bags by the company as part of salary payments, but forged the figure to make it 45 bags. During the time Ushe committed the offence, between 2008 and 2009, the company was paying salaries via bags of cement to counter inflation during the Zimbabwe dollar era.
Gweru magistrate Phathekile Msipa ordered the accused to pay $400 restitution. Should he default in payment, he will serve three months in prison. Msipa said despite the seriousness of the offence, she considered that the accused was still a student and was about to write his exams and gave him a second chance to mend his wayward ways.
A further three months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. The State’ s case was that on dates unknown to the prosecutor, but during the period extending from December 19 2008 to January 15 2009, the accused unlawfully forged a cement document delivery note given to him to acquire five bags of cement.
He, however, altered the document, inserting a four, to make it appear as if the company had given him 45 bags.
