Duo sentenced to 44 months in prison for unlawful entry, theft

Two men from Esigodini have been sentenced to 44 months imprisonment for unlawfully crossing the border into Botswana and stealing property worth more than P37 000.

Sikhumbuzo Ncube (30), of Mawabeni Village, Esigodini and Tawanda Ndlovu (32), of Dingane Village both pleaded not guilty of theft but were convicted after a full trial by Plumtree magistrate Mr Gibson Mandaza.

They faced three counts of theft, one count of illegally exiting the country and one of illegally entering the country.

Twelve months of their sentences were suspended for five years on condition that they do not within the period commit a similar offence.

The State case presented by Miss Jane Phiri  was that on a date unknown but during the period extending from 1 October 2012 to 23 January 2013, the duo and other people, who are still at large, unlawfully crossed the border into Botswana.

On 26 December the two broke into a house belonging to Esther Katjikara and stole property worth P8 650. On 15 January the pair went on to steal property worth P13 040 from Kebanye Tsepiso's homestead and property worth P15 405 from Keeremang Matome's homestead on 19 January.

The property they stole from the three houses comprised a Plasma television, LG home theatre system, LCD Samsung Television, LG Home Theatre, LCD Tek Television, a Panasonic DVD, a Silver Philibao decoder and clothing items.

On 23 January the pair unlawfully entered the country at Makorokoro area of Mayobodo in Mangwe District with the stolen property.

The pair was arrested in the Mphoengs area on 26 January after police received a tip-off from members of the public. Property worth P16 040 was recovered.