News / National
Lovestruck man fakes robbery to raise lobola money
5 hrs ago |
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A 26-year-old Bulawayo man, Delight Ncube, has been convicted after fabricating an armed robbery in a desperate attempt to cover up his failure to raise US$6,000 for lobola.
Ncube appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Themba Chimiso facing a charge of deliberately supplying false information to the police. He pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard that Ncube had promised his girlfriend and her family that he would pay US$6,000 as bride price. However, despite allowing preparations for the ceremony to proceed, he did not have the money.
On the day he was expected to deliver the payment, Ncube failed to show up. Instead, around midday, he contacted the family with a dramatic account, claiming he had been robbed at gunpoint while travelling with his uncles to pay the lobola. He alleged that both the cash and a Mazda vehicle had been stolen.
Ncube went on to file a formal report at Khumalo Police Station, triggering an investigation.
However, detectives from the Vehicle Theft Squad became suspicious after identifying inconsistencies in his account. Following further questioning, Ncube admitted that he had staged the robbery in a bid to avoid disappointing his girlfriend and her family.
In mitigation, Ncube apologised to the court, saying financial pressure had driven him to fabricate the story.
"I really apologise for what I did. I was pressured by my girlfriend, who wanted me to pay the bride price. She told me that her parents wanted US$6,000," he said.
"Seeing that I could not raise it since I earn US$250, I had to come up with a plan of a fake robbery because I did not want to lose my lover, as I love her very much."
Prosecutor Samuel Mpofu told the court that Ncube's actions had wasted police time and State resources, as officers launched unnecessary investigations based on false information.
Magistrate Chimiso convicted Ncube and imposed a fine of US$100, payable by March 31. Failure to pay will result in a four-month custodial sentence.
Police reiterated the importance of reporting truthful information, noting that false reports divert critical resources from genuine cases.
Ncube appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Themba Chimiso facing a charge of deliberately supplying false information to the police. He pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard that Ncube had promised his girlfriend and her family that he would pay US$6,000 as bride price. However, despite allowing preparations for the ceremony to proceed, he did not have the money.
On the day he was expected to deliver the payment, Ncube failed to show up. Instead, around midday, he contacted the family with a dramatic account, claiming he had been robbed at gunpoint while travelling with his uncles to pay the lobola. He alleged that both the cash and a Mazda vehicle had been stolen.
Ncube went on to file a formal report at Khumalo Police Station, triggering an investigation.
However, detectives from the Vehicle Theft Squad became suspicious after identifying inconsistencies in his account. Following further questioning, Ncube admitted that he had staged the robbery in a bid to avoid disappointing his girlfriend and her family.
In mitigation, Ncube apologised to the court, saying financial pressure had driven him to fabricate the story.
"I really apologise for what I did. I was pressured by my girlfriend, who wanted me to pay the bride price. She told me that her parents wanted US$6,000," he said.
"Seeing that I could not raise it since I earn US$250, I had to come up with a plan of a fake robbery because I did not want to lose my lover, as I love her very much."
Prosecutor Samuel Mpofu told the court that Ncube's actions had wasted police time and State resources, as officers launched unnecessary investigations based on false information.
Magistrate Chimiso convicted Ncube and imposed a fine of US$100, payable by March 31. Failure to pay will result in a four-month custodial sentence.
Police reiterated the importance of reporting truthful information, noting that false reports divert critical resources from genuine cases.
Source - HMetro
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