By Meditation Mposi
Gambling has landed a Masvingo businessman in jail after he defrauded a client of nearly US$2000 and using the money for betting.
Thinkmore Gezeya, who buys and sell ceiling boards told the court that he used his client Godwin Ratisai’s US$1 860 to gamble when he was supposed to buy ceiling boards in Mutare four years ago.
Gezeya was convicted of theft by Masvingo Magistrate Cathrine Tafira, who then sentenced him to 10 months behind bars.
In passing judgment, Magistrate Tafira said she had given Thinkmore Gezeya 10 months after considering that he was a first time offender, has a family and also some of the money was recovered.
Tafira however said a custodial sentence was necessary, saying Gezera’s actions were not acceptable considering that he used business money for personal interests since 2020 and never returned it but rather continued betting.
It was the state case that sometime in September 2020, Godwin Ratisai gave Gezeya US$1 860 to purchase ceiling boards for resale on his behalf since they were business partners.
Gezeya did not purchase the ceiling boards, neither did he return the money to Ratisai. He started to avoid Ratisai giving excuses whenever he tried to reach him to recover his money.
On September 14, 2024 Ratisai met Gezeya in Masvingo CBD and reported the matter to Masvingo Central Police Station which led to Gezeya’s arrest.
From the total USD$1 860, Gezeya managed to return US$142 since 2020.
Narrating his side of the story, Gezeya said he had found the ceiling boards out of stock in Mutare and had to wait for a week. While waiting, he met his college friends who persuaded him to bet part of the cash, after which he converted the remainder for personal use.
Asked why he did not pay back the money since 2020, Gezeya said he was still betting in an attempt to recover all the money.
