$1 600 loot hooker freed

A PROSTITUTE who looted property worth $1 688 from a senior Government official after his failure to pay her for sex services rendered following a romp at his matrimonial home in Bulawayo, has been acquitted.

Itai Muzambi, who took the goods from Raymond Nyandoro, a principal town planning officer in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing stationed at Mhlahlandlela offices in the city, was yesterday acquitted of unlawful entry and theft charges.

Muzambi charged Nyandoro $25 for a night of pleasure before the two proceeded to the man's house in Bradfield suburb after allegedly hooking up at Pub Lagondola on July 27.

After failing to pay, Nyandoro allegedly invited Muzambi to take anything she wanted from the house.

She took a Plasma TV, DVD, laptop, blankets, two cellphones, a comforter, men's and women's clothes, shoes, a wrist watch, suitcase, a Kenwood speaker, 3kg of meat and a gas stove including its cables and tanks.

Bulawayo magistrate Miss Charity Maphosa, in passing judgment, said there was no evidence incriminating Muzambi.

She said Nyandoro, in his testimony, kept telling the court that he could not remember anything that had transpired that night.

"According to the evidence produced in this court, it was only the complainant and the accused present in the house at the time of commission of the offence. The accused gave her defence outline stating that she felt she deserved the property she was told to take because she thought she had out done the services expected of her," said Miss Maphosa.

She added: "Complainant said he only remembers taking a taxi from the city centre to his home. He clearly stated that he did not remember anything else that happened after that. Judging from that statement, accused person can be given the benefit of doubt that she was indeed invited to take anything she wanted."

Miss Maphosa said the investigating officer pointed out that there was no evidence that the door to Nyandoro's house was forced open from the outside thereby disqualifying a charge of unlawful entry.

"It was proved that complainant granted accused entrance into his house. Her second coming after getting a taxi from town can be justified because she needed transport to ferry the property that had been given to her by the complainant," she said.

"Complainant failed to explain to the court what exactly happened on the night his property was looted. However, considering the amount that accused had charged for her services and the amount of property that she looted, there is a great difference. Accused is hereby ordered to return all the property to complainant and if she feels like she still needs her money then the two of them will have to make arrangements."