A Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services officer has been found guilty of stealing valuables ranging from laptops to printers from offices at the Mjandani Dlodlo (New Government Complex) building in Harare.
Kandukuhle Ndithi, 30, pleaded guilty to eight counts of unlawful entry and theft when he appeared before Magistrate Simon Kandiro in Harare on Tuesday last week.
He was detained in custody to plead for mitigation and aggravation.
During the prosecution, Mr Takudzwa Gamboo told the court that on 27 March at about 6.30pm, Ndithi, who was working in the monitoring and evaluation section of the building, raided Mr Clemens Chipende’s office at the Public Prosecutor’s Office when everyone there had gone home.
He forced open the office door and stole an HP monitor and two HP printers.
Mr Chipinde discovered the crime on April 2 and reported the matter to the police. Investigations were conducted that led to Ndithi’s arrest. He cooperated with the arresting police officers and began handing over other stolen equipment and explaining how he had stolen the property.
In March, police had to remove the printers from their offices and place them in a closet along the corridor to allow for renovations. Sometime in April, Ndithi went to the closet, gained entry through an open hallway door and stole two HP printers.
The court heard police discovered the crime on April 11 when Ndithi showed investigators how he had stolen the printers.
In another charge, Ndithi stole from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.
On 5 April, at approximately 6:30 pm, Mr. Johannes Masango got off work and locked his office. Ndethi broke into the office over the weekend, stole three HP monitors and two computers and then walked away.
Mr Masango discovered the crime on 8 April and reported the matter to the police.
The total value stolen is $1,250 and everything has been recovered.
In January, Ndithi stole from the offices of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
The ministry had stored printers, televisions and other computer accessories in the warehouse.
Between January and April 5, Ndithi illegally entered the warehouse and stole six printers, two central processing units and a television set.
The ministry discovered the crime on April 11 when Ndithi led investigators to the crime scene. The total value stolen is $1,500, all of which has been recovered.
The court heard that Ndithi stole printers and a computer worth US$3,100 from the procurement department of the same ministry. Announce
