HARARE - A chief teller at FBC Bank collapsed in the dock yesterday after magistrate Lazarus Murendo told him he would spend the next two years in prison for stealing from his employer.

Alfred Madzokere, 28, had to be taken out of the court room by prison guards to his new home while still unconscious.

Murendo sentenced Madzokere to five years in prison but suspended one year on condition of good behaviour and a further two on condition he restitutes FBC Bank $30 204.

In passing sentence, the magistrate said as chief teller, Madzokere breached the trust bestowed on him and took advantage of the opportunity to make money from stealing.

Facts leading to the conviction are that from July 2012 to September 2012 at FBC Samora Machel, Madzokere received cash deposits from Zimbabwe Newspapers on behalf of the bank.

The funds were supposed to be deposited into Zimpapers’ FBC account.

However, from September 1 to September 9, he did not deposit the money but converted it to his own use. - Helen Kadirire