News / National
Woman blows $13,000, claims robbery to cops
05 Apr 2016 at 06:37hrs | Views
A BURIAL society treasurer from Pumula South suburb in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly embezzling $13,000 and falsely reporting to the police that she had been robbed by two unknown men at her house.
Beatrice Sibanda, 48, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso facing charges of theft and deliberately supplying false information to a public authority.
The court heard that police investigations had ruled out robbery, as alleged by Sibanda.
In a warned and cautioned statement, Sibanda had said the two alleged robbers had broken in through her bathroom window and confronted her in her bedroom demanding the burial society money.
Sibanda was dragged to court by the Sibanye Burial Society president, Benita Sibanda of the same suburb.
Chimiso remanded her in custody to today for a bail hearing.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza told the court that sometime last year, the burial society held a meeting where counting of burial funds was done.
"The treasurer was in possession of $12,383. A meeting was held on February 3 and burial society members paid subscriptions amounting to $341 which were handed over to the accused person. On February 10 another burial society meeting was held and money amounting to $478 was handed over to the accused for safe keeping," said Mageza.
The prosecutor said Sibanda converted the money to her own use and made a false police report.
"On February 13 the accused reported that money amounting to $13,238 had been stolen by two male adults whom she alleges broke in through a bathroom window to gain entry into her house," said Mageza.
The prosecutor said investigations were carried out and it was discovered that Sibanda had made a false police report so as to cover up that she had converted the money to her own use.
Last month another burial society treasurer from Pumula suburb appeared before a magistrates court for allegedly embezzling $2,400 and making a false police report to cover up the offence.
Jausironi Jongwe, 68, allegedly converted the money to his own use and claimed that the money had been stolen in a Kombi.
Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube remanded him out of custody to April 18.
Beatrice Sibanda, 48, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso facing charges of theft and deliberately supplying false information to a public authority.
The court heard that police investigations had ruled out robbery, as alleged by Sibanda.
In a warned and cautioned statement, Sibanda had said the two alleged robbers had broken in through her bathroom window and confronted her in her bedroom demanding the burial society money.
Sibanda was dragged to court by the Sibanye Burial Society president, Benita Sibanda of the same suburb.
Chimiso remanded her in custody to today for a bail hearing.
Prosecuting, Mufaro Mageza told the court that sometime last year, the burial society held a meeting where counting of burial funds was done.
The prosecutor said Sibanda converted the money to her own use and made a false police report.
"On February 13 the accused reported that money amounting to $13,238 had been stolen by two male adults whom she alleges broke in through a bathroom window to gain entry into her house," said Mageza.
The prosecutor said investigations were carried out and it was discovered that Sibanda had made a false police report so as to cover up that she had converted the money to her own use.
Last month another burial society treasurer from Pumula suburb appeared before a magistrates court for allegedly embezzling $2,400 and making a false police report to cover up the offence.
Jausironi Jongwe, 68, allegedly converted the money to his own use and claimed that the money had been stolen in a Kombi.
Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube remanded him out of custody to April 18.
Source - chronicle
