Mkoba man goes on thieving spree to pay wife's hospital bill

The movie John Q. centres on a man whose nine-year-old son is in desperate need of a life-saving transplant. When he discovers that his medical insurance won't cover the costs of the surgery and alternative government aid is unavailable, John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) takes a hospital emergency room hostage in a last-ditch attempt to save his child.

A Mkoba man decided instead to steal in an effort to raise hospital fees for his beloved wife, and as is the case in John Q, ended up in prison.

Prosecutor Daniel Tafuma told the court that December 19 2015 at around 0200hrs Tafara Mutivati (24) of Mkoba stole 15 chickens belonging to Ellliot Isaac of 2305/1, also in Mkoba.

He went to Isaac's house and cut the wire mesh on the fowl run, took the chickens, and left.

A fowl run

Mutivavi sold five of the stolen chickens to Theresa Masundire of Siyawakuya compound.

Masundire confirmed that she had bought the chickens for $12. She had already consumed them.

The court also heard that on December 22, Mutivati went on to steal a bed base, mattress and a blanket from Aleta Gomo of 638 Kandemhuru Road, Ascot.

After he was caught by the police, Mutivati confessed to his crime and led the police to his place of residence where they found the mattress, leading to his arrest.

Of the $120 worth of goods stolen, $50 was recovered.

Magistrate Judith Taruvinga him to 36 months in prison and five were suspended on condition that he pays restitution.