By Roland Routh
WINDHOEK – Two security guards were fined N$2 500 or three months imprisonment on a conviction of theft, while the charges against a third were withdrawn in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
Andreas Unengu was released on Friday after the State withdrew the charge of theft against him for lack of evidence. His two co-accused, 25-year-old Hilia Petrus and 30-year-old Generosa Unengu pleaded guilty to a charge of theft.
They were convicted of stealing a box of tiles valued at N$1 000 at the place they was supposed to guard on November 19.
The items are said to belong to Cornelius van Wyk. They initially made a first appearance before Magistrate Justine Asino on Thursday, but their case was remanded to Friday for lack of time after they indicated that they intended to plead guilty.
They were granted bail of N$1 000 each and the State at that stage already indicated that the charge against Andreas Unengu – whose name on the charge sheet is indicated as Mbundu – would be withdrawn.
After they returned to court on Friday their case was heard. In mitigation Petrus said that she is a single mother of a two-year-old child who lives with the father in the north.
She informed the court that she was employed as a security guard at the place where she stole and earned a salary of N$1 000 per month.
According to Petrus she stole the tiles to install them in her shack. She told the court that she could only afford a fine of N$300.
Generosa Unengu told Asino she too is a single mother of three children aged two, eleven and fourteen years respectively.
She too was employed as a security guard at the place where she stole and is now unemployed. She said the tiles were recovered by the police and as such no loss was suffered by the complainant. She requested a fine of not more than N$1 000.
State prosecutor, Samantha Diergaadt, told Asino that while the State took cognisance of the accused’s personal circumstances, theft is and remains a serious offence and is very prevalent in the district of Windhoek.
She said that both accused were employed as security guards and abused the trust placed in them.
Diergaardt recommended a fine of N$5 000 or three months behind bars. Asino in sentencing admonished the accused for stealing from a place they were supposed to guard and where they were in a position of trust.
She said that theft from businesses is becoming a serious threat and that society needs to be protected from such conduct.
She was however lenient as she said that both convicts are first offenders and the items were recovered.