Witness Sibanda, a 24-year-old Entumbane resident, was convicted for stealing domestic goods from two Harris Lodges in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, including bed linens, towels, lightbulbs, and a solar panel.
It was believed that the stolen goods were worth US$480 in total. Sibanda reportedly tried to escape with the stolen items, which also included a dish and a cup, despite checking into the lodges as a frequent visitor. The local neighborhood watch committee assisted the vigilant lodge security staff in stopping his escape.
He was then taken into custody by armed investigators, and all of the stolen goods were found.
Sibanda appeared before Magistrate Eva Matura and pleaded guilty to the charges. In a plea for leniency, he told the court that he was unmarried but had a six-year-old child and claimed he stole the items for personal use.
However, the court was not swayed by his appeal.
He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with three months suspended for five years. The remaining nine months were converted into 315 hours of community service at Siyazama Primary School.
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