FORMER Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) finance director Simon Taranhike, who was arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office, was on Friday sentenced to 15 months in jail at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts following a full trial.
Magistrate Hosea Mujaya slapped Taranhike with a total of 30 months in prison, but six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The other nine months were suspended on the condition that the accused compensates the 1 800 litres of fuel which he abused to Zinara before December 31, 2019.
The magistrate ruled that Taranhike’s blameworthiness was inexcusable despite him being a first offender and did not directly benefit from commission of the offence.
Mujaya said despite Taranhike suffering loss of employment and that he was a family man, the offender would still get due sentence in order to convey the appropriate message to would be criminals.