A 52-year-old Harare man who twice obtained meals from Chicken Inn after falsely claiming his political party would settle the bill has been sentenced to 20 days’ imprisonment, wholly suspended on condition he repays the money.
Nevan Nyarugwe pleaded guilty to two counts of making off without payment when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ayanda Dhlamini.
The State, represented by prosecutor Takudzwa Mutyavaviri, told the court that on 31 July at around midday, Nyarugwe went to a Chicken Inn outlet along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare and placed an order.
He told the outlet’s representative, Rocky Sam, that he wanted to eat and that his political party would pay for the meal. He was given a three-piece chicken meal valued at US$9 and left without paying.
The court heard that he failed to return to settle the bill, despite knowing payment was required immediately. Nothing was recovered.
A week later, on 7 August at around 12.30 pm, Nyarugwe allegedly returned to the same outlet and used the same misrepresentation.
He again claimed his political party would pay for his food and was given a one-piece meal valued at US$3. He left without paying, bringing the total prejudice to US$12.
Investigations later established that Nyarugwe had misrepresented himself and that no payment was forthcoming from the purported political party.
Magistrate Dhlamini sentenced Nyarugwe to 20 days in prison, wholly suspended on condition that he restitutes the full US$12.
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