Man accused of stealing sculptures

A man has been accused of stealing sculptures from a house at Hillcrest in Bulawayo.

The stolen sculptures were worth $1160..

Raphael Masuku (52) of Ellington Avenue Khumalo denied the charges when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Charity Maphosa.

The court heard that between April 11 and 12 2014 Masuku went to Loveness Ndebele (29)'s home and stole six synthetic animal sculptures   which were erected outside the complainant's gate and went away unnoticed.

 Ndebele was later told by Loice Mwazikana that she saw sculptures she suspected were stolen at Masuku's home.

 Ndebele with the police went to Masuku's house and positively identified her six synthetic sculptures which included  the fishing Eagle bird, black Buffalo, grey Rhino, Brown and Cream Brahman and V Brand, Charcoal grey elephant and wooden Rhino.

Masuku was arrested and he said he had bought them from Mkhululi Ncube and Thulani Sibanda but the latter denied the claim.

Masuku allegedly went to Zonkeizizwe complex in Bradfield where Godfrey Mguni of Woodville Park had left his sculpture of elephant and stole it.  Mguni later discovered that his sculpture had been stolen and reported the case to the police. The sculptures were recovered from Masuku's house leading to his arrest.