By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Shawn Chiboyiwa, a 23-year-old man from Brundish in Chinhoyi, has been convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment for theft of trust property. The Chinhoyi Magistrates’ court handed down the sentence after Chiboyiwa was found guilty of defrauding two residents through deceptive cellphone sale arrangements.
Circumstances are that the offender approached Caroline Munyaradzi, a 30-year-old self-employed woman, at her shop in Chinhoyi, claiming to have found potential buyers for cellphones.
The complainant handed over a Nokia G22 and a Huawei P Smart cellphone, valued at US$340, expecting the offender to return with payment. However, he failed to return and became evasive when the complainant attempted to contact him.
The offender was arrested on the 27th of March 2025, and police investigations led to the recovery of the Nokia G22 from Edwin Mutasa at Gadzema Rank, Chinhoyi, who had purchased it from the offender.
The recovered cellphone was valued at $220. Additionally, the offender had approached Tapfumaneyi Marima, a 35-year-old man from Chikondohone, Chinhoyi, claiming to have potential customers for cellphones.
Marima gave the offender two cellphones, a Huawei Y9 and a Samsung A10S, valued at US$90, with the understanding that he would return with the payment.
However, the offender did not return with the money or cellphones. Following his arrest on the 27th March 2025, police recovered the Huawei Y9 from John Causemore, who had purchased it from the offender, valued at USD50.
The offender was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment of which 3 months was suspended on condition that offender restitute the complainant in the 1st count USD120 and 40USD for the 2nd count.