A former shift manager at Baker’s Inn, William Gonese, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after being found guilty of theft.
Initially, the 28-year-old was handed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, but 12 months were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Additionally, 10 months were set aside on the condition that he reimburses the US$3,420 he misappropriated from his employer.
Appearing before Harare Magistrate Lynne Chinzou, Gonese admitted to using the money for online gambling, specifically on the betting platform Kandege.
He confessed that he had hoped to impress his newly eloped wife if he had won big.
“Your Worship, I never intended to steal. I thought I could make more money, but after starting with US$350, I kept trying my luck and ended up losing everything,” he explained.
Prosecutor Audrah Chitoro revealed that Gonese had been given US$3,420 as a business float for customer transactions at the Baker’s Inn branch on Chinhoyi Street, Harare.
However, while on a night shift, he recklessly gambled away the funds, losing US$470 in cash and US$2,950 in InnBucks deposits.
At around 3:08 AM the following day, Gonese reportedly contacted Simbisa Bakers Inn audit manager Yusufu Bruce and admitted to squandering the money through betting.
An audit confirmed the missing amount, leading to his immediate arrest.
None of the funds were recovered.
