Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – A villager who tried to pay for a hired transport service allegedly using a fake five dollar bond note was savagely beaten by three friends who felt hard done by the deal, the Mwenezi Magistrates Court heard last week.
Lawrence Vengai (39), Abraham Musekwa (30), Prosper Guni (19) who all reside in different villages under headman Gororo, Chief Nemauzhe in Chivi were convicted, on their own plea of guilty, for assaulting Munyaradzi Paringa.
Magistrate Honest Musiiwa sentenced the trio to eight months imprisonment of which two months were conditionally suspended.
Asked by the magistrate what made them to brutally assault their victim, the trio said they were angered by the fact that the person had hired them yet wanted to cheat them by using fake money to pay for the services.
The court heard that on June 19, Vengai was at Lundi business centre when he was approached by Paringa requesting to be ferried to Helani village. The two agreed that Paringa will pay two dollars for the service.
Vengai approached Musekwa and Guni to accompany him and they complied and they drove the car to Helani village.
Upon reaching the destination, Paringa gave Vengai a five dollar bond note for the service but Vengai began to question the authenticity of the money leading to an argument.
Musekwa and Guni intervened and took turns to assault Paringa with fists, logs and open hands, accusing him of issuing fake money.
Paringa later managed to escape but the trio had already caused immense harm on his body and was taken to Neshuro District Hospital for treatment.
A medical report that was produced in court showing that the victim sustained severe injuries. Willard Chasi appeared for the State.local
