A ZVISHAVANE man’s health status saved him from a long jail sentence after being convicted of driving his uncle’s vehicle without his consent.
OWN CORRESPONDENT
Robert Maseko (32) of Mugari village under Chief Nyamhondo in Mberengwa was sentenced to six months in prison by Zvishavane magistrate Peter Madiba after he was found guilty of unauthorised borrowing of a vehicle.
Maseko appeared in court with a bag containing drugs for various ailments together with medical records of his ill-health and pleaded with the court to be lenient on him saying he was the sole breadwinner with six children.
The court heard that on July 7, Maseko borrowed a Toyota Raum from his uncle Abel Mushakwa for a day saying he wanted to raise money to buy food for his family that had allegedly gone for days without anything to eat due to poverty.
Maseko took the car and never returned it in the evening as promised.
On August 23, Mushakwa was travelling to a church camp meeting to Chiredzi when he encountered Maseko at Zaka business centre using his vehicle to ferry people to some rural areas in the Zaka district.
Mushakwa reported to the police and Maseko was arrested.
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In passing sentence, Madiba cautioned people against taking advantage of their relatives and trying to use their medical conditions to avoid custodial sentences.
“If you know that you are ill, do not commit an offence as that is not an automatic ticket for escaping a custodial sentence. “People must desist from taking advantage of those who pity their lives,” he said.