News / National
Mugabe dairy bomber jailed 8 years
09 Feb 2016 at 16:36hrs | Views
A 34-year old leader of a political party, Owen Kuchata, who was convicted of attempting to bomb Gushungo Dairy in Mazowe has been sentenced to an effective eight years in prison.
The case resulted in the arrest and prosecution of the Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana after he had released two of the accused's accomplices in the attempted arson on the first family's business.
Magistrate Hosiah Mujaya initially slapped Kuchata with nine years but suspended one year on condition that he will not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
In passing the sentence, Mr Mujaya said Kuchata is a politician who is expected to lead by example by not destroying other people's properties.
The presiding magistrate also noted that Kuchata went for reconnaissance before the commission of the crime, a clear indication that he was determined to commit the offence.
The state represented by Mr Michael Reza, who was praying for a maximum sentence of 20 years, said it is unfortunate that Kuchata was leading his supporters and teaching them to perpetuate violence.
Kuchata was charged under Section 27 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act that provides for a life imprisonment for those convicted of possessing weapons for sabotage.
In mitigation, Kuchata said he was sorry for what he did and said he has now realised that what he did was wrong.
Kuchata revealed that petrol bombs were manufactured by Borman Ngwenya and Solomon Makumbe, his accomplices.
The case resulted in the arrest and prosecution of the Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana after he had released two of the accused's accomplices in the attempted arson on the first family's business.
Magistrate Hosiah Mujaya initially slapped Kuchata with nine years but suspended one year on condition that he will not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
In passing the sentence, Mr Mujaya said Kuchata is a politician who is expected to lead by example by not destroying other people's properties.
The state represented by Mr Michael Reza, who was praying for a maximum sentence of 20 years, said it is unfortunate that Kuchata was leading his supporters and teaching them to perpetuate violence.
Kuchata was charged under Section 27 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act that provides for a life imprisonment for those convicted of possessing weapons for sabotage.
In mitigation, Kuchata said he was sorry for what he did and said he has now realised that what he did was wrong.
Kuchata revealed that petrol bombs were manufactured by Borman Ngwenya and Solomon Makumbe, his accomplices.
Source - zbc
