I’m pregnant, jailed female robber tells court

By Tendai Kamhungira

HARARE – A convicted female robber shocked the state yesterday after she told the court she was two months pregnant yet she had been in custody for three months.

Letwin Maliselo, 31, through her lawyer yesterday told Harare regional magistrate Esthere Chivasa that she was two months pregnant, urging the court to be lenient with her in passing sentence after she was convicted on a robbery charge. Prosecutor Reza expressed shock and queried Maliselo’s statement.

“She has been in custody for three months. Who has she been having sexual intercourse with?” asked Reza. Magistrate Chivasa had to seek clarification from Maliselo, who later explained that she was arrested while two months pregnant.

Maliselo, who was facing two counts of robbery, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Magistrate Chivasa suspended two years on condition she restitutes the complainant $2 040, while a further year was suspended on condition of good behaviour for the next five years.

Maliselo was jointly charged with a male accomplice Michael Hovhiyo Nyakwima, 27, while five accomplices are still on the run. Nyakwima was convicted on both counts and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Nyakwima will spend 16 years in prison if he manages to pay back the complainants $2 040 and R12 000 before the end of this month.

In passing sentence magistrate said the two were “dangerous and societal misfits”. “The accused were very inconsiderate in the commission of the offence and a non-custodial sentence will be a miscarriage of justice,” said Chivasa.

Prosecutor Reza had urged the court to pass a lengthy custodial sentence, considering that he worked with South African nationals in the commission of the offence. “Accused two (Nyakwima) recruited South Africans to come and commit robbery in this country as if we do not have enough robbers in this country,” said Reza.

The court heard the robbers posed as police officers and tracked Maliselo’s fellow illegal foreign currency dealers and stole money from them. They stole $10 000 from Richard Musa and R50 000 and $1 200 from Tariro Rukure. Daily News