A LANDLORD from Bulawayo has been fined $2 000 for
assaulting a pregnant tenant for refusing to vacate his shop.
Mgcini Tobela (36) of Cowdray Park suburb, who is the owner
of Room 11, Highgate Complex along Fort Street between 10th and 11th Avenues,
pushed Ms Veronica Gumbo (28) of Montrose suburb against a glass door and it
shattered causing her to suffer a deep cut on her right hand.
Ms Gumbo was a beauty therapist at Tobela’s shop.The beauty therapist appeared in court with her injured
hand strapped in bandages. Tobela pleaded not guilty to assault when he
appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya but was convicted.
The magistrate fined him $2 000 or six months imprisonment
in case of default. “The accused person has been sentenced to pay a $2 000 fine
or six months in prison. In addition, six months imprisonment wholly suspended
for five years on condition that accused person does not commit any offence
involving assaulting someone within that period,” said Mr Tashaya.
He said Tobela’s inconsistency in his defence exposed him
as a liar.
“In his defence, the accused person agreed that he had used
force in closing the door to his shop with the complainant standing in between
trying to stop him. However, when he was cornered by the State in cross
examination, the accused person denied ever using force, stating that he pushed
the door with his left hand while his other hand was holding a phone,” Mr
Tashaya said.
Judging by Ms Gumbo’s injuries, he, said, Tobela had
exerted force in closing the door.
Prosecuting, Mr Leonard Chile said on November 2 at around
11AM, Ms Gumbo was at the complex when she was approached by Tobela.
He then demanded her keys, saying she must vacate the
premises together with her employees.
“An altercation broke out between them and the accused
person pushed the complainant once on the chest,” Mr Chile said.
Ms Gumbo was saved from falling by one of the tenants who
entered the shop during the altercation.
Tobela went on to forcibly close the shop door with Ms
Gumbo standing in the doorway thereby hitting her with the door on the right
hand.
As a result of the force that was exerted, the glass
section of the door broke and cut Ms Gumbo on the hand causing her to bleed
profusely.
The matter was reported at Bulawayo Central Police Station
leading to Tobela’s arrest. Ms Gumbo was referred to United Bulawayo Hospital
for medical treatment.
A medical report was compiled and presented in court
stating that Ms Gumbo suffered serious injuries. Chronicle
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