Harare Man Jailed 42 Months For Kidnapping, Assaulting Former Workmate Over Company Information
A Harare man has been jailed for 42 months after kidnapping and assaulting his former workmate in an attempt to obtain company-related information.
Harare Provincial Magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai convicted Simbarashe Emmanuel Martin Rondozai after the court found strong evidence connecting him to the offence.
Rondozai was initially handed a 48-month prison term.
However, the court suspended six months for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
Also Read: Fake Police Officer Jailed 7 Years for Robbery and Kidnapping Spree
Former workmate held for seven hours
The State told the court that Rondozai targeted his former colleague, David Matanda, in May last year.
Matanda was allegedly taken from his home in Chitungwiza and held against his will for approximately seven hours.
According to the prosecution, Rondozai wanted to pressure Matanda into withholding information concerning alleged fraudulent activities at their former company.
The court found that the offence was aggravated by the assault suffered by Matanda during the incident.
Magistrate Kuhudzai ruled that the evidence presented against Rondozai was overwhelming.
Rondozai challenges State’s case
Rondozai denied the allegations during the proceedings.
He argued that prosecutors had not established the precise date on which the alleged kidnapping occurred.
According to Rondozai, the uncertainty over the date prevented him from properly presenting an alibi in his defence.
The court, however, found sufficient evidence linking him to the crime.
Sole breadwinner appeals for leniency
During mitigation, Rondozai asked the court to impose a lighter sentence.
He told the court that his imprisonment would leave his family without its main source of income.
Rondozai said he is the sole breadwinner for his household and has two children aged below five.
He also told the court that his wife is unemployed.
Despite his plea for leniency, the court imposed the custodial sentence after considering the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and assault.
Separate US$11 000 fraud case pending
Rondozai is also facing another criminal matter unrelated to the kidnapping case.
He is accused of defrauding Wellcash Debt Collectors of nearly US$11 000 in 2024.
That matter has not yet been finalised.
The case is scheduled to resume on October 10.
The post Harare Man Jailed 42 Months For Kidnapping, Assaulting Former Workmate Over Company Information appeared first on iHarare News.
