In a small but poignant episode in Karoi, a man named Praise Kagande found himself entangled in the judicial system over a seemingly trivial offense: shoplifting two packets of sweets valued at ZiG 91 equivalent to US$7.
The incident unfolded at the Harare Inn Wholesale shop on a fateful evening of June 26, 2024.
As the Karoi Magistrates’ Court deliberated over the case, details emerged that painted a picture of an impulsive act with lasting repercussions.
Kagande, ostensibly entering the shop with the guise of a customer, made a swift and surreptitious decision to pocket the sweets instead of paying for them.
This momentary lapse in judgment was swiftly captured by the store’s CCTV surveillance, casting an incontrovertible shadow over his actions.
Security personnel, acting on the alert triggered by the surveillance system, intercepted Kagande as he attempted to leave the premises.
ALSO READ: Maid teams up with cops to steal US$107K from employer
A search promptly revealed the concealed sweets, confirming the theft beyond doubt. In the eyes of the law, his actions constituted a breach of trust and a violation of property rights, leading to his immediate arrest.
The subsequent legal proceedings unfolded with a mix of gravity and deliberation. The court, having reviewed the evidence and considered Kagande’s circumstances, rendered a sentence of four months’ imprisonment. However, a measure of leniency tempered the severity of this judgment: two of those months were suspended for a probationary period of five years, contingent upon his compliance with the law during this time.
Further mitigating Kagande’s sentence, the court invoked an additional suspension for the remaining two months on the condition that he contribute 70 hours of community service.
This decision aimed not only to hold Kagande accountable for his actions but also to facilitate his rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
