By Judith Nyuke
A Harare woman has appeared in court on allegations of stealing US$27 000 from her employer.
Albina Mutiza appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo charged with theft.
She was remanded in custody to 29 April after her bail application was rejected
The complainant in this matter is Priddles Investments (Pvt) Ltd.
Mutiza is employed by the complainant as a sales lady.
The State alleges that sometime between April 2024 and April 2025, the exact date being unknown to the prosecutor, the complainant at Shop F4B, Gulf Complex, CBD, Harare, noticed a decline in Mutiza’s sales and began to suspect her of theft.
As a result, the complainant contracted Mr. Kanyoka from Preak Enterprises to conduct an audit of the accounting records for the accused’s shop. The subsequent audit report indicated a variance of US$27,375.36, leading the complainant to undertake a more comprehensive investigation of workplace activities.
It is further alleged that on the 7th of April 2025 Mutiza finished work then she printed a sales report of the day which she then cashed a total of US$1075 00 as sales of the day on the 7th day of April 2025.
After she surrendered the money to complainant she went back to the shop then she sold accessories worthy US$ 335-00 after she had cashed in.
The Court heard that the complainant got information that Mutiza had accessed shop computer, immediately he went to the shop and summoned her and one Mrs Tino Mhondoro.
Mutiza was allegedly told to print sales report of the day it showed that she had sold US$1439-00 yet she had cashed US$ 1075-00.
The State alleges that when questioned about the shortfall, Mutiza eventually produced US$335.00 from inside her jeans after being interviewed by the complainant. She claimed this money represented part of her sales from that day.
On April 8, 2025, the police took Mutiza to her house in Budiriro, where a search resulted in the recovery of ICT accessories belonging to the complainant. The recovered items, valued at US$902,000, had been taken from the shop.
The total value stolen is US$27 375-36 and US$ 1237-00 was recovered.
