Garden Boy steals US$38k from employer, builds himself lavish home
A gardener built a lavish rural home using crime proceeds after he allegedly stole US$38 000 and 2 000 British pounds from his employer, a Harare court heard on Monday.
The suspect is Gift Nyamayevhu, who is jointly charged with his relative, Elizabeth Nyamayevhu.
It is also alleged that the two used the money to buy a farm in Mhondoro, where their rural home is.
They appeared before Harare magistrate, Babra Mateko, who remanded them in custody to this Thursday for bail application.
According to court papers, the complainant is Gerald Nyoni, a doctor stationed at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
The offence was allegedly committed at the doctor’s Strathaven home.
Nyamayevhu was employed by Nyoni since 2019.
He was staying with his family at the residence.
Sometimes, Nyoni would leave Nyamayevhu’s family at his premises traveling abroad.
The court heard at one time, Nyamayevhu stole Nyoni’s bedroom keys which were hidden in the sitting room.
He took US$38 000 and 2 000 British Pounds from a safe.
Prosecutors allege he replaced US$6 900 with fake notes in 100-dollar denominations.
On April 24, 2022, Nyoni unlocked his safe and took the money for banking.
Whilst in the banking hall, he counted his money and discovered that he had US$26 900 instead of US$58 000.
He further discovered that some of the notes were fake and reported the matter to the police.
Investigations followed, leading to Nyamayevhu’s arrest.
The police discovered that he also had several items belonging to Nyoni at his rural home.
Nyamayevhu then implicated his relative.
