Maxmillan Mugabe (46) appeared in court on Tuesday for stealing $83 000 worth of groceries from N. Richards Wholesales after teaming up with one of the store’s security guards, Themba Ngwerume. Mugabe was granted $300 bail and remanded to May 10 when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tilda Mazhande charged with fraud.
The court heard that Mugabe befriended Ngwerume who was a security controller at the exit door. Ngwerume’s duties included checking if customers had paid for the groceries on the receipts. The duo came up with a plan where Mugabe would buy groceries, pay for them and approach Ngwerume to check the receipt. Ngwerume would check the groceries, but hand back the receipt to Mugabe without stamping it. Mugabe would then exit the store with the goods and dispose of them.
He would return into the shop and use the unstamped receipts to take the same type of groceries without paying for them. Ngwerume would then check the groceries and stamp the receipts to appear as if the goods had been paid for. The offence came to light when a stock-take on December 27 last year, revealed that items worth $83 000 were stolen. Mugabe and Ngwerume were arrested after security scrutinised CCTV footage.
More: Herald
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