AN OFFICER based at Mzilikazi Police Station in Bulawayo who was convicted of fraud involving R100, on Monday told the court that he stole the money to buy maize seeds and pleaded with the court to only fine him since he had already lost his job.
SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
The policeman, Lawrence Dlamini (25), denied the fraud charge when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Charity Maphosa, but he was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months.
However, nine months were suspended for three years on condition of good behaviour and the remaining nine months were also suspended on condition that he performed 315 hours of community service.
“Why did you commit the offence?” Maphosa asked Dlamini.
“I needed money to buy maize seeds. I am a breadwinner and have a family to look after. Following conviction, I have lost my job and now do not have a source of livelihood. I have already served a police sentence for the same offence with labour for two months,” Dlamini said.
The court heard that on July 15, 2013, Dlamini was at the Mzilikazi charge office when he was given an instruction to collect a deposit fine of $20 on a docket of assault from one Itsepemodimo Valela.
Dlamini was given R200, but receipted only R100 and converted the other R100 to his own use. To cover up the offence, Dlamini wrote R200 on the duplicate and triplicate copies.
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He handed the duplicate to Valela and photocopied the triplicate which he placed in the docket and destroyed the original copy.
The offence came to light when routine checks were conducted on the accounting books and it was discovered that no such amount was entered, leading to his arrest.
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