News / National
Air Zimbabwe bosses sentenced to 10 years in prison
10 Apr 2015 at 17:51hrs | Views
Former Air Zimbabwe bosses Grace Pfumbidzayi and Peter Chikumba have been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of siphoning close to US$10 million from the national airline.
Pfumbidzayi and Chikumba will, however, serve an effective 7 years in jail each after Harare Regional Magistrate Fadzai Mutombeni suspended 3 years.
The pair was convicted on Thursday.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate said the court had to decide the punishment and look into circumstances of the case as well as the protection of the public.
She added that the self-enrichment by people in public offices if unchecked and not thoroughly punished will be unfair to society.
The magistrate said a lengthy jail term without an option of a fine will send a clear message to would be offenders.
After the sentence, Pfumbidzai's lawyer Advocate Webster Chinamhora told the ZBC News his legal team has already filed a note to appeal.
The court was fully packed with members of the media, friends and relatives of the convicts.
Some of them had happy faces in anticipation of a lighter sentence as their defence team was appealing for non-custodial sentences during mitigation.
Outside the court, some of the friends and relatives were seen crying openly while others appeared to be in a state of shock.
Pfumbidzayi and Chikumba will, however, serve an effective 7 years in jail each after Harare Regional Magistrate Fadzai Mutombeni suspended 3 years.
The pair was convicted on Thursday.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate said the court had to decide the punishment and look into circumstances of the case as well as the protection of the public.
She added that the self-enrichment by people in public offices if unchecked and not thoroughly punished will be unfair to society.
The magistrate said a lengthy jail term without an option of a fine will send a clear message to would be offenders.
After the sentence, Pfumbidzai's lawyer Advocate Webster Chinamhora told the ZBC News his legal team has already filed a note to appeal.
The court was fully packed with members of the media, friends and relatives of the convicts.
Some of them had happy faces in anticipation of a lighter sentence as their defence team was appealing for non-custodial sentences during mitigation.
Outside the court, some of the friends and relatives were seen crying openly while others appeared to be in a state of shock.
Source - zbc
