A former shift manager at Baker’s Inn, William Gonese, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after being convicted of theft.
Gonese, 28, was initially handed a two-and-a-half-year jail term, but 12 months were suspended on condition of good behavior. An additional 10 months were set aside on the condition that he repays the US$3,420 he stole from his employer.
Appearing before Harare Magistrate Lynne Chinzou, Gonese admitted to taking the money to fund online betting, where he was trying his luck on Kandege. He also revealed that he had hoped to impress his newly eloped wife if he had won.
“Your Worship, my intention was not to steal, but to win more money. I started betting with US$350, and as I kept trying my luck, I ended up spending all the US$3,420,” he explained.
According to prosecutor Audrah Chitoro, Gonese had been entrusted with a float of US$3,420 to serve customers at a Baker’s Inn branch on Chinhoyi Street, Harare. However, during a night shift, he gambled away the funds, losing US$470 in cash and US$2,950 in InnBucks deposits.
At around 3:08 AM the next day, Gonese called Simbisa Bakers Inn audit manager Yusufu Bruce and confessed to losing the money through betting. A subsequent reconciliation confirmed the missing amount, leading to his arrest.
None of the stolen funds were recovered.
