News / Africa
Zimbabwean woman convicted for shoplifting in Namibia
13 Nov 2013 at 02:07hrs | Views
A ZIMBABWEAN woman, who claimed to have stolen $100 worth of clothes in a Namibian shop for re-sale in order to pay her hospital bills, has been fined $200 or three months in jail.
Sheilla Zuidzayi, 26, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft when she appeared before a Windhoek Magistrate's Court last week.
According to local cops, Zuidzayi went into Mr Price, a clothing retailer, and started filling a bag with the clothes before casually trying to walk out of the shop when was stopped byan alert security guard.
In mitigation, the single mum of three - one aged five and twins who are three years old - said she came to Namibia on October 26 for medical treatment.
She asked the court for forgiveness and leniency, telling the magistrate she could only afford a fine of $50
Prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt however urged a tougher sentence, arguing Zuidzayi went on a stealing spree to enrich herself.
Had it not been for the vigilance of the security guard she would have gotten away with the crime, said the prosecutor .
The court was also told that Zuidzayi was a foreign national who had abused the hospitality offered to her by Namibia and showed total disregard for the country's laws.
The prosecutor recommended a fine of $300 or three months in jail.
Zuidzayi was also told that the fact that she stole several items was a sign of greed and that society needed protection from unscrupulous foreigners who abuse the hospitality offered to them.
The court however, said being a first offender with three minor children counted in her favour along with the recovery of all the stolen items.
Sheilla Zuidzayi, 26, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft when she appeared before a Windhoek Magistrate's Court last week.
According to local cops, Zuidzayi went into Mr Price, a clothing retailer, and started filling a bag with the clothes before casually trying to walk out of the shop when was stopped byan alert security guard.
In mitigation, the single mum of three - one aged five and twins who are three years old - said she came to Namibia on October 26 for medical treatment.
She asked the court for forgiveness and leniency, telling the magistrate she could only afford a fine of $50
Prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt however urged a tougher sentence, arguing Zuidzayi went on a stealing spree to enrich herself.
Had it not been for the vigilance of the security guard she would have gotten away with the crime, said the prosecutor .
The court was also told that Zuidzayi was a foreign national who had abused the hospitality offered to her by Namibia and showed total disregard for the country's laws.
The prosecutor recommended a fine of $300 or three months in jail.
Zuidzayi was also told that the fact that she stole several items was a sign of greed and that society needed protection from unscrupulous foreigners who abuse the hospitality offered to them.
The court however, said being a first offender with three minor children counted in her favour along with the recovery of all the stolen items.
Source - newera
