MUM ARRESTED FOR USING PHONE STOLEN BY SON

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy at Baobab Primary School in Victoria Falls who stole a tablet from the institution has gotten his mother in trouble as she has been arrested for using the gadget.

The Grade 6 pupil lied to her that he had been given the ZTE tablet valued at $120 at school under the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme yet he had stolen it.

He stole the tablet in March and gave it to his mother who used it until her arrest in May.
His mother appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje recently charged with possession of stolen property.

She pleaded not guilty claiming that she did not know that her son had stolen the tablet, but was convicted. The mother, boy and a teacher who testified in the matter cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor.

Magistrate Gakanje sentenced her to a wholly suspended four months in jail on condition that she completes 140 hours community service at the Victoria Falls Magistrate Court.

“I do not admit to the charges being levelled against me because I was only given the cellphone by my son. I didn’t know that it was stolen,” she said.

Testifying in court, a teacher at the school said the woman acted irresponsibly by accepting a stolen gadget from her son. The teacher said the woman was supposed to confirm with the school that her son had benefitted from a STEM programme as alleged.

“As a parent the accused was supposed to make a follow up with the school to confirm his claims or even to appreciate what the school had supposedly done for her son,” she said.
Prosecuting, Mr Listen Nare said the boy stole the tablet from the school’s computer laboratory between March 2 and 3.

“During the period extending from the 2nd of March and the 4th of April 2017, the accused unlawfully and intentionally was in possession of a black ZTE tablet worth $120. She was arrested after investigations led to a Telecel number which happened to be hers,” said Mr Nare. Chronicle

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