Woman (25) jailed for copper possession

A 25-year-old Masvingo woman who was found in possession of 73 kilogrammes of copper wire stashed in a tyre has been jailed for a year.

Ratidzai Chibwe was last week found guilty of violating the Copper Control Act when she appeared before Mbare Magistrate Mr Reuben Mukavhi.

The court heard that on May 6 at Mbare Musika bus terminus an anonymous informant tipped off the police after seeing a "suspicious" looking tyre being loaded onto a Masvingo bound bus.

A team of officers pursued the matter and managed to recover the copper wire which was concealed in the tyre.

The bus conductor, Faris Mayisiri, is said to have pointed out to the police that Ratidzai, of Chibwe village under Chief Muzokomba in Zaka, was the owner of the tyre in question.

Prosecutor Ephraim Zinyandu told the court that after her arrest Ratidzai feigned labour pains in a bid to wiggle out of the clutches of the law.

The State counsel disclosed that at one time the accused attempted to remove her underwear as she sought to "prove" that she was in labour.

In her defence before the court Ratidzai denied the charges and claimed that she had been given the copper wire by a "male adult" whose name she could not tell the court.

In sentencing her, Mr Mukavhi noted that there was overwhelming evidence linking the suspect to the crime.