STORESMAN JAILED OVER 10 000L DIESEL FRAUD

Tendai GukutikwaMutare BureauA 25-YEAR-OLD Border Timbers Limited storesman has been sentenced to an effective 12 months in prison after defrauding his employer of 10,000 litres of diesel worth US$17,782 through manipulation of fuel records.Munashe Marimudzi appeared before the Mutare Magistrates’ Court where he was convicted.He was found guilty of fraud committed between January and August 2025. Following the conviction, the Mutare Magistrates’ Court sentenced Marimudzi to 48 months’ imprisonment.However, 12 months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while a further 24 months were suspended on condition that he pays restitution to Border Timbers.He will, therefore, serve an effective 12-month prison term.In a statement released by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), Marimudzi abused his position by altering fuel issue documents and creating fictitious transactions in the company’s Syspro Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to conceal the theft.“The offender manipulated fuel issue records and recorded false transactions in the company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to conceal the loss of diesel,” said the NPAZ.The offence was uncovered after Border Timbers management detected inconsistencies while analysing the company’s Daily Combined Power Report, which monitors diesel consumed by generators against electricity usage.“Company management detected anomalies while analysing the Daily Combined Power Report.“An internal investigation uncovered altered fuel issue documents, prompting a forensic audit and, subsequently, a police report,” reads the statement.The forensic audit established that the company had lost 10,000 litres of diesel valued at US$17,782.“The audit established that Border Timbers had lost 10 000 litres of diesel.

The offender also failed to account for an additional 3,303 litres.“The conviction highlights the consequences of abusing positions of trust. Employees who manipulate company records to facilitate fraud will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”