Accounts Clerk Appears in Court for theft of trust property

by Priviledge Zviregei

An accounts clerk with M.A Auto Suppliers has appeared in court on allegations of stealing $3,500 from her company.

Lorraine Mawema recently appeared before Harare magistrate, Ms Lynne Chinzou, charged with theft of trust property. She was remanded out of custody to July 24 for the commencement of her trial.

The complainant in this matter is M.A Auto Suppliers, represented by its finance manager, Vellah Christine.

Prosecutor Mr Tinotenda Masimba alleges that on June 24 at around 8am, Mawema was ordered by Christine to remit all the cash that was in her custody, but she kept delaying. The court heard that Mawema later went to Christine’s office and confessed that she had used the $3,500 to buy a car.

This prompted Christine to report the matter at Marlborough Police Station, leading to Mawema’s arrest. However, the stolen funds were not recovered.

The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by companies in Zimbabwe when it comes to safeguarding their financial assets from internal theft. Employers are urged to implement robust financial controls and oversight mechanisms to prevent such incidents from occurring.

The trial for Lorraine Mawema is scheduled to commence on July 24. If found guilty, she could face a fine or imprisonment, depending on the magistrate’s discretion and the severity of the offense.