A sex worker from Magwegwe North suburb was on Tuesday jailed for an effective three months for stealing a wallet from another patron, with whom she was dancing at a night spot in New Lobengula.
PRESTIGE GAMA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Petronela Phiri was convicted on her own plea of guilty when she appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Chipumha-Dube.
Phiri said she indeed stole the wallet, but could not remember whom she had passed it to after snatching it.
Initially she was sentenced to four months in prison, with one month suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years.
In mitigation, Phiri told the court that she took the wallet because she was tempted and broke.
“I admit, your worship, I took the wallet. I was tempted to take it because of my situation,” she said.
“I am not a thief. My job is to dance at night clubs and get people who buy me beer to enjoy the night.”
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For the State, Kenneth Shava told the court that last Saturday Phiri was dancing at a night club in Lobengula with Albert Mushaminga, who bought her beer.
At a later stage, the two started flirting.
Mushaminga said he met Phiri at the toilets and she asked him to buy her beer.
“I went with her inside the bar and started buying beer for her, but little did I know she was there trying to con me,” he said.
“She kept on asking me if I was drunk, but this did not set off any alarm bells in my mind. I suspect she had already hatched a plan to rob me when I got drunk.
“Phiri invited me for a dance and I fell for it.”
Mushaminga did not feel anything when he was being searched, but he testified that he soon realised that Phiri had left. He immediately checked his pockets and realised there was nothing.
“I suspected her because she was caressing me during the dance, but mostly she was holding me on the thighs,” he said.
“Immediately when I realised my wallet was no longer there, I told my friends and we went out to the car.”
Mushaminga said they later caught up with Phiri, whom they dragged to the nightclub and questioned her about the wallet.
She reportedly admitted stealing the wallet, but said she could not remember who she gave it to.
