A 27-year-old man of Lomshiyo has been sentenced to seven years in jail without the option of a fine after he was found guilty of breaking into a teacher’s house at Nhlanhleni Primary School.
Fanelo Magagula appeared before Senior Magistrate Sindisile Zwane, where he was charged with housebreaking with intent to steal and theft.
Magagula stole items valued at E5 290 on June 20 last year from the home of Mbongeni Mhlanga.
Mhlanga told the court that he discovered his house had been broken into while returning from Mbabane.
He said the intruder went straight to the bedroom and stole:
-
A television set valued at E2 500
-
A Supersonic sound bar valued at E1 500
-
An external hard drive valued at E500
Additional Items Stolen
The complainant further testified that the following items were also missing:
-
A blue hair clip valued at E200
-
An AC adaptor valued at E150
-
An AUX cable valued at E40
-
Cash amounting to E400
Mhlanga reported the matter to the Pigg’s Peak Police, who launched investigations.
ALSO READ | WE WILL DELIVER – CABINET
A friend of the accused testified that he found Magagula disassembling a sound bar at his home. When asked where he had obtained it, the accused admitted that he had stolen it.
The friend said Magagula also mentioned that he had a television set he wanted to sell and asked for help in finding a buyer.
The following day, the friend received information from a resident that a teacher’s house at Nhlanhleni Primary School had been broken into and items stolen.
He then informed the resident that he had seen some of the stolen items at the accused’s home and that the accused had been planning to sell them.
The friend and the resident asked the accused to send pictures of the items. However, Magagula claimed the items were no longer with him and were now stored at Madlangempisi.
Police were alerted and took the accused in for questioning, which led to the revelation that he was responsible for the break-in.
In court, he pleaded guilty.
Before sentencing, Senior Magistrate Zwane reminded the accused that he had committed a serious crime by denying the owner the right to use and enjoy his property in peace.
She said the accused had robbed the victim of peace of mind and disregarded the effort invested in acquiring the property through hard-earned money.
Zwane stated that the accused deserved a harsh sentence that would serve as a deterrent to him and other would-be offenders.
Magagula was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.
