Mbabane – A 25-year-old man from Dlangeni has been sentenced to eight months imprisonment or an option of a E1 300 fine after presenting a forged receipt at OK Foods.
Velabo Dlamini appeared before the Mbabane Magistrates Court facing a charge of fraud on Tuesday. The court heard that on October 17, Dlamini deceived a customer, Hillart Nemaramba, by producing a fake receipt for a cake and convincing him to pay E429.99 in cash in Mbabane.
According to the charge sheet, Dlamini knowingly presented the counterfeit receipt to unlawfully benefit from the transaction. The deception was uncovered when the complainant verified the receipt with store management, who confirmed that it was not genuine.
Upon being advised of his legal rights, Dlamini chose to be represented by an attorney, who confirmed his client’s guilty plea. In mitigation, the defence attorney pleaded for leniency, stating that Dlamini had shown remorse and accepted full responsibility for his actions.
“He is a young man of 25 with no prior criminal record. He spent the weekend in custody, lost his job as a result of this incident, and has learned a painful lesson. He promises never to repeat such behaviour,” said the defence attorney.
In delivering judgment, the magistrate acknowledged that fraud is a serious offence but considered Dlamini’s early guilty plea and cooperation with the court.
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