Nyasha Eusen, who was wrongly accused of killing Nyarai Round in September last year and had his murder case withdrawn, was on Thursday, 2 February ordered to perform 700 hours of community service for theft by a Harare magistrate.
He stole two smartphones from a Harare woman after he had told her he could repair them.
Eusen was released about two weeks ago after it emerged that he had nothing to do with Round’s murder, but the now-deceased was allegedly shot dead by ex-cop Jaison Muvevi.
Days after his release from remand prison, Eusen was spotted in a commuter omnibus by the woman, Chakaonei Matipedza, leading to his arrest.
He was taken to the Harare Magistrates Court where he admitted to conning Matipedza a Samsung Note 4 and Note 5.
Eusen took the two smartphones worth US$350 after lying to Matipedza that he was in a position to repair them. After taking the phones, he vanished.
After the conviction, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison by Harare magistrate Munashe Chibanda for theft of trust property.
The magistrate set aside 10 months of the jail term for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
The court also suspended the remaining 20 months on condition that Eusen performs 700 hours of community service.
Eusen was also ordered to pay Matipedza $280 000 for the phones.
Allegations were that in September 2019 Eusan approached Matipedza at her workplace along Chiremba Road in Hatfield in Harare and told her that he could update the system of her Samsung Note 5 and Note 4.
Matipedza then asked her son, Zvikomborero Gonorenda, to accompany Eusan to the city centre where he would update the two phones’ systems.
On arrival, Eusen told Zvikomborero to wait for him at Joina City whilst he took the phones to Market Square for a systems update. He then disappeared.
Matipedza then spotted him in Epworth while aboard a city-centre-bound commuter omnibus on January 30 and informed the police leading to his arrest.