A 23-year-old man from Beitbridge, Nigel Masona, has been sentenced to an effective 16 months in prison after being found guilty of aggravated unlawful entry and theft at his in-law’s residence. Masona appeared before the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court to face charges related to the incident, which took place on October 20, 2024.
According to court reports, the complainant had securely locked his house before leaving with his wife. However, while he was away, a neighbor informed him that an intruder was seen at his property. Upon further investigation, the neighbor identified the trespasser as Masona, the complainant’s brother-in-law. When the complainant returned, he discovered that his door had been forced open and his safe broken into, with ZAR4,900 missing.
The complainant promptly reported the matter to the police, leading to Masona’s arrest. In court, Masona received a 24-month prison sentence, with four months suspended for five years. An additional four months were suspended on the condition that he pays restitution. This leaves him with an effective 16-month prison term.
