Martin Muleya
A 29-year-old man, Thembelani Siziba, also known as Innocent Muncitsha, has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by Mutare magistrate Honest Musiyiwa for defrauding Halsteds Brothers.
Siziba, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of unlawfully altering an invoice for building materials worth $32.96 to read $2,131.96, and attempting to deceive the company into releasing the goods.
The court heard that Siziba acting in common purpose with his two unknown accomplices who are still at large went to Halsteds Brothers in Mutare.
“Upon arrival at Halsteds Brothers around 1100hrs, Siziba purchased 1 IBR Chromadek Kalahari red 0.40mmx 686mmx 3.6meters, brick force 115mmx 20m, Proplastic electrical Conduit pipes 19mm PVC 4.0 EC19 on invoice number M02/00665853 that costs US$32,96.00
“Siziba took the invoice and altered time on the invoice 11:10 to read 12:10 and he altered 1 IBR Chromadek Kalahari red 0.40mmx686mm x 3.6meters, brick force 115mm x 20m, Proplastic electrical Conduit pipes 19mm PVC 4.0 EC19 to read 90 and the total amount was altered to become $2 131,96.00
“He took the altered receipt to Halsteds Builders dispatch where he tendered the fictitious receipt and contents on the receipt were loaded into Siziba’s hired truck. One of Halsteds Brothers employees became suspicious on the number of IBR sheets loaded into the truck and he made a check up on the company system and discovered the offence,” Joice Tinarwo prosecuted.
A follow-up was made leading to the arrest of Siziba and recovery of the IBR sheets in Mutare town.
Magistrate Musiyiwa suspended 2 months of the sentence for 5 years on good behavior and he will effectively serve 10 months in prison.
