News / National
Man jailed for stealing father's cattle
04 Jun 2014 at 05:14hrs | Views
A 22-year-old Chiredzi man has been jailed for nine years for acting in cahoots with his friends to steal eleven cattle from his father.
Appearing before Chiredzi magistrate Honest Musiyiwa, Lot Piki admitted to stocktheft. Prosecutor Muchini Ngwarai told the court that on May 19, Piki of section 18 Chipimbi, Chiredzi, connived with Lawrence Fungai, 20, also from the same district and Dread Nyamunda to steal 11 beasts from his father, Msindo Piki.
Nyamunda is on the run.
The three are alleged to have stolen the cattle and drove them to Pascal Matopera's village for "safekeeping" while they looked for buyers.
Matopera later reported the stocktheft to police leading to Piki and Fungai's arrest.
All the eleven cattle were recovered.
Piki pleaded guilty to the charge but blamed his friends who he accused of pressurising him to commit the crime.
"I acted out of influence from friends. I am really sorry and I want to apologise to my father and the court," said Piki.
In his judgment, magistrate Musiyiwa said cases of stocktheft were on the rise and as such deterrent sentences were called for.
"The court in passing the sentence has considered the fact that accused number one (Loti) is a first offender but however cases of stocktheft are on the rise hence the need for deterrent sentences. What however is in the accused's favour is that all the stolen cattle were recovered," said magistrate Musiyiwa.
He then sentenced Piki to nine years in jail. Fungai is yet to be sentenced as the two were charged separately.
Appearing before Chiredzi magistrate Honest Musiyiwa, Lot Piki admitted to stocktheft. Prosecutor Muchini Ngwarai told the court that on May 19, Piki of section 18 Chipimbi, Chiredzi, connived with Lawrence Fungai, 20, also from the same district and Dread Nyamunda to steal 11 beasts from his father, Msindo Piki.
Nyamunda is on the run.
The three are alleged to have stolen the cattle and drove them to Pascal Matopera's village for "safekeeping" while they looked for buyers.
Matopera later reported the stocktheft to police leading to Piki and Fungai's arrest.
All the eleven cattle were recovered.
Piki pleaded guilty to the charge but blamed his friends who he accused of pressurising him to commit the crime.
"I acted out of influence from friends. I am really sorry and I want to apologise to my father and the court," said Piki.
In his judgment, magistrate Musiyiwa said cases of stocktheft were on the rise and as such deterrent sentences were called for.
"The court in passing the sentence has considered the fact that accused number one (Loti) is a first offender but however cases of stocktheft are on the rise hence the need for deterrent sentences. What however is in the accused's favour is that all the stolen cattle were recovered," said magistrate Musiyiwa.
He then sentenced Piki to nine years in jail. Fungai is yet to be sentenced as the two were charged separately.
Source - chronicle
