GWERU - A 70-year-old man from Gweru was on Thursday lucky to escape a jail term after he was found guilty of discharging a firearm in a dispute involving prospecting for gold in an illegal area.
Jephias Muchochomi of Athlone, Gweru, was found prospecting for gold near Shamrock mine, but when an official from the mine confronted him he fired in his direction.
Gweru magistrate Phathekile Msipa, however, said because the State does not encourage the incarceration of elderly people, Muchochomi should pay a fine of $200, failure of which he will spend two months in prison.
She suspended a further three months for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The accused's firearm certificate was cancelled and the weapon was forfeited to the State.
It was the State's case that on May 2, the complainant, Tambural Mutamba, an adminstration manager at Shamrock Mine, found the accused prospecting for gold near the mine boundary. After confronting him, the accused became angry and fired towards Mutamba, but on the ground. The complainant then reported the matter to the police, leading to the accused's arrest.SOURCE-Harare 24
Jephias Muchochomi of Athlone, Gweru, was found prospecting for gold near Shamrock mine, but when an official from the mine confronted him he fired in his direction.
Gweru magistrate Phathekile Msipa, however, said because the State does not encourage the incarceration of elderly people, Muchochomi should pay a fine of $200, failure of which he will spend two months in prison.
She suspended a further three months for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The accused's firearm certificate was cancelled and the weapon was forfeited to the State.
It was the State's case that on May 2, the complainant, Tambural Mutamba, an adminstration manager at Shamrock Mine, found the accused prospecting for gold near the mine boundary. After confronting him, the accused became angry and fired towards Mutamba, but on the ground. The complainant then reported the matter to the police, leading to the accused's arrest.SOURCE-Harare 24
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