Memory Rasa
A 23 year old Gutu man studying electrical engineering at Kwekwe Polytechnical College was recently slapped with an eleven year jail term for illegally connecting electricity directly to his father’s shop at Chihambakwe business centre in Gutu.
Gideon Gweshengwe (23) was charged for contravening Section 60 A (1) (a) of the Electricity Act chapter 13:19 for abstracting and diverting electricity.
The court heard that the college student unlawfully connected electricity at Chengetai Investment Stores in at Chihambakwe business centre from January to May 20.
The offence was discovered by a Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) liaison officer who reported to the police, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Gweshengwe pleaded guilty before Gutu Resident Magistrate Edwin Marecha and begged for mercy saying he was still a student and was ready to pay the outstanding bill.
“I am sorry your worship, if you may forgive me and let me pay the outstanding bill. I connected electricity because when ZESA people came in January in Chihambakwe, they only connected for our neighbor despite the fact that we had also paid the connection fee and called the same day.
“I was hurt seeing how these people are corrupt and decided to connect for myself since I learnt the skill at school,” Gweshengwe said.
Marecha sentenced the 23 year old to eleven 11years saying there is nothing the court would do to lessen the sentence since such offenses were already recorded.
Marecha however suspended 1 year on condition that Gweshengwe pays US$1 684 to ZESA by November 30 2016 failure of which he will serve the whole 11 years.
Millicent Azangwe prosecuted.news
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