Martin Muleya
Philip Mandeya was sentenced to five years imprisonment by provincial magistrate Poterai Gwezhira for stealing a motor vehicle belonging to Last Chauya (28).
Mandeya who was a self-actor in court, pleaded guilty to stealing a motor vehicle as defined in Section 113 (1) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
It was the State’s case led by Sandra Mlambo that on 22 June 2025 and at PetroTrade 1st Street, Mutare, Philip Mandeya stole a Toyota Ipsum vehicle (Reg number ACJ 2642) belonging to Last Chauya.
“0n the 22nd of June 2025 at around 1700hrs, Mandeya approached Chauya’s parked white Toyota Ipsum at PetroTrade where Mandeya works. He opened the vehicle which was not locked and gained entry into the vehicle. He then stole and drove Chauya’s vehicle having started it using his own keys which he had brought with him, towards Harare from Mutare CBD.
“Mandeya discovered the offence and was assisted by a well-wisher to look for the car, leading them to Victoria Chitepo hospital bus stop along Mutare-Harare where they found Chauya loading passengers into the vehicle. He alerted nearby police officers who arrested and recovered the vehicle from Chauya who was in the process of loading passengers,” prosecuted Mlambo.
Provincial magistrate Gwezhira handed down the five year prison sentence of which one year was suspended on usual conditions after considering the circumstances of the case and Mandeya’s guilty plea.
