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MBABANE – A 26-yearold man of Sidwashini, who stole Red Label Whisky, told the court that the alcohol was meant to be consumed on the way to a funeral.
Banele Innocent Mohammed appeared at the Mbabane National Court yesterday, following his arrest for shoplifting.
The accused is said to have stolen a 750ml bottle of Red Label Whisky, worth E323.99 at Mbabane Pick n Pay Liquor Shop. The matter was before Court President Chief Mgebiseni Dlamini.
In mitigation, the accused did not deny stealing the whisky, but told the court that he was forced by his friends to go and steal, as they were heading to a funeral.
“We were going to a funeral with my friends on that day, when they forced me to go and steal whisky at Pick n Pay. I could not resist the temptation from my friends because they are the ones that had been buying me drinks since I am unemployed,” said the accused.
Security
Gcina Vilane’s, Mbabane Pick n Pay Liquor security guard, said the accused person came into the shop on the day alone and greeted him as he walked past and headed towards the shelves where beverages were kept, and picked one.
He then told the court that after the accused had taken the bottle of whisky, he put it under the white short sleeve T-shirt he was wearing and went towards the exit point.
Vilane further told the court that the accused had tried to get out with the bottle but was caught. He further stated that the accused tried to apologise for the crime, but the store management insisted he be taken to the police station.
The court president asked Vilane whether the accused bought any item after entering the store. In his response, he told the court that he had not bought anything.
Money
In mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency and told the court that it was not his intention to steal but he was influenced by peer pressure. He acknowledged his wrong actions and told the court that he did not have money to buy the liquor.
“It is true that I stole the whisky after I was led astray by my friends. They told me to make a plan by ensuring that I get something to drink. All this happened while we were on our way to a funeral,” he said.
The accused told the court that he was a first time offender and inexperienced in stealing.
He said if he was not a first time offender, he would have stolen a bottle that does not have a ‘tag’. “I am sorry for stealing Pick n Pay Supermarket’s item. I never thought I would be caught during the process of stealing,” he pleaded.
The accused was sentenced to seven months imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E600.