Security guard gets 6 years behind bars for stealing

A SECURITY guard who disappeared with $13,500 which he was transporting from a private company to a local bank has been sentenced to six years in jail.

Lloyd Munsanka of Siabuwa in Binga District and employed by Guardian Security company in Bulawayo pleaded not guilty to the theft charge but was convicted by Bulawayo magistrate Charity Maphosa on Friday.

Magistrate Maphosa suspended most of the sentence, leaving him with only 18 months to serve.
Three years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime. Eighteen months were further suspended on condition that Munsanka restitutes the stolen money on or before November 30.

Prosecuting, Kudakwashe Jaravaza told the court that on March 28 this year, Munsaka was on duty transporting the cash from TV Sales and Hire to Standard Chartered Bank.

After having signed for the money and collected it, he was handed the keys to the cash boxes and set off for the bank in a company vehicle.

"While in the vehicle he told Caswell Nyamakanga who was assigned the gunner duties during the cash transportation that he had a boil on his buttock and he preferred sitting on a spare wheel which was in the cash compartment," said Jaravaza.

The court heard that while in the compartment, Munsaka allegedly opened the cash boxes using the keys he had and stole cash amounting to $13,559 and locked the boxes.

Munsanka was left at Standard Chartered Bank where he was supposed to bank the cash but dumped the cash boxes and disappeared. A police report was made leading to Munsanka's arrest.

In his defence Munsaka professed ignorance about the missing cash and instead blamed the bank officials.

"Your Worship I did not steal the money. In fact, I was called by my friend while at the bank, saying he had got a job for me in Binga. I had no choice but to urgently leave my current employer who has not been paying us for four months," said Munsanka.