A Pastor from Kadoma is set to face the wrath of the law after stealing a congregant’s shoes and selling them.
In a startling turn of events at an African Seventh-day Adventist church, the Kadoma assembly was rocked by a disturbing incident involving the alleged theft of 200 pairs of shoes by the Pastor, Learnmore Rupiya, from a congregant.
The 41-year-old Pastor faced the consequences of his actions as he was brought before the Gweru magistrates’ courts. Magistrate Nixon Mangoti presided over the case.
After due deliberation, Magistrate Mangoti sentenced the Pastor to two years in prison. However, the sentence was conditionally suspended, and the Pastor was required to complete 350 hours of community service.
The court heard that on March 9, Dylan Maregere, a student from Midlands State University, inadvertently left behind his extensive collection of 200 pairs of shoes within the confines of the church.
Under the cloak of night, around 11:00 PM, the Pastor secretly entered the church premises through the rear entrance and absconded with the multitude of shoes.
Subsequently, the Pastor arranged for the shoes sold through a local vendor. The vendor was to sell the shoes on behalf of the Pastor. However, law enforcement authorities intervened when a tip-off led to the vendor’s arrest.
Despite efforts to recuperate the stolen goods, only a fraction of the total value was retrieved. The shoes, valued at $4000, yielded a recovery of merely $2000.
The ensuing investigation revealed the pastor’s involvement in the theft. He confessed to orchestrating the theft through the church’s back entrance.
Source iharare
