Cunning Bulawayo woman steals $24,000 from employer, blames armed robbers

Cunning Bulawayo woman steals $24,000 from employer, blames armed robbers

A 35-year-old woman from Barham Green, Bulawayo, is accused of taking advantage of armed robbery to steal $24,000 from the steel manufacturing company where she works in the Belmont industrial area.

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Woman uses armed robbery as cover to steal $24,000 from employer

On October 15, Nothando Banana allegedly used the chaos of an armed robbery at the company, in which thieves armed with handguns and a garden pick stole $32,500, as a cover for its own theft. Banana was charged with theft of trust funds and tried to blame the robbers for the missing money. She made her first appearance before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate, Mrs Benhilda Chiundura, with Mr Jethro Mada representing the state, while Mr Bob Siansole of Shenje and Company defended her.

Court records show that the robbers confronted security guards and employees on duty that night, forcing them to lie down and tying their hands and legs with shoelaces. After the robbery, company officials inspected the safe, which had been entrusted to Banana and contained $27,000, and found that it had not been tampered with.

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Bulawayo woman steals $24,000 from employer and blames armed robbers

According to the state’s case, Banana allegedly saw the robbery as an opportunity and stole $24,400 from the safe she controlled. This money, collected from sales transactions, would be turned over to her superiors.

“They then asked for keys from the suspect and opened the safe. When they opened the safe, they discovered that only $2,600 of the $27,000 was left. When interviewed, she admitted to using the money.

Banana was reportedly arrested after lavish spending in Bulawayo. She appeared in court again on Friday and was released on bail until November 18 while investigations continue.