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Driver gambles company's US$3 753 on Aviator
2 hrs ago |
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A 23-year-old driver employed by Trinity Pharmacy in Harare appeared in court yesterday after gambling away company funds amounting to US$3 753 and ZiG 400 on the popular online betting game, Aviator, commonly known as kandege.
The driver, Edwin Ziko, was charged with two counts of theft of trust property when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Artwell Sanyatwe. He pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted using the company's money to gamble, claiming he had hoped to multiply the funds before returning them.
Ziko will return to court on Monday for sentencing.
According to the State, represented by prosecutor Ms Dzidzai Josiah, Ziko was assigned to collect and deliver cash between Trinity Pharmacy's branches in Harare. On November 5, he collected four envelopes containing US$1 400 and ZiG 400 from the pharmacy's Karigamombe branch and signed the cash-up collection book confirming receipt. However, the money never reached the company's head office.
When the pharmacy's accounts manager, only identified as Mr Hama, made follow-ups with the branch manager later that day, it was confirmed that Ziko had collected the cash but had failed to deliver it. Further investigations revealed that he had converted the money for his personal use.
Later the same day, Ziko went to the pharmacy's Chiremba Road branch in Hillside, where he delivered medical supplies and claimed he had been instructed to collect cash. He was handed five sealed envelopes containing US$2 353, which he also failed to deposit at the head office.
In total, Ziko misappropriated US$3 753 and ZiG 400, none of which has been recovered.
The theft came to light after Ziko failed to account for the cash collections. When confronted, he confessed to using the money to gamble on Aviator, an online betting platform that has gained popularity in Zimbabwe for its quick wins - and even quicker losses.
In court, Ziko appeared remorseful and told the magistrate he had not intended to steal but had "fallen into the trap of greed" believing he could double the money.
The complainant, Trinity Pharmacy, was represented by its human resources and administration officer, Mr Fidelis Chiwada.
The magistrate remanded the case to Monday for sentencing, where Ziko's plea of guilt and remorse is expected to be considered in mitigation.
The driver, Edwin Ziko, was charged with two counts of theft of trust property when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Artwell Sanyatwe. He pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted using the company's money to gamble, claiming he had hoped to multiply the funds before returning them.
Ziko will return to court on Monday for sentencing.
According to the State, represented by prosecutor Ms Dzidzai Josiah, Ziko was assigned to collect and deliver cash between Trinity Pharmacy's branches in Harare. On November 5, he collected four envelopes containing US$1 400 and ZiG 400 from the pharmacy's Karigamombe branch and signed the cash-up collection book confirming receipt. However, the money never reached the company's head office.
When the pharmacy's accounts manager, only identified as Mr Hama, made follow-ups with the branch manager later that day, it was confirmed that Ziko had collected the cash but had failed to deliver it. Further investigations revealed that he had converted the money for his personal use.
In total, Ziko misappropriated US$3 753 and ZiG 400, none of which has been recovered.
The theft came to light after Ziko failed to account for the cash collections. When confronted, he confessed to using the money to gamble on Aviator, an online betting platform that has gained popularity in Zimbabwe for its quick wins - and even quicker losses.
In court, Ziko appeared remorseful and told the magistrate he had not intended to steal but had "fallen into the trap of greed" believing he could double the money.
The complainant, Trinity Pharmacy, was represented by its human resources and administration officer, Mr Fidelis Chiwada.
The magistrate remanded the case to Monday for sentencing, where Ziko's plea of guilt and remorse is expected to be considered in mitigation.
Source - The Herald
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