27-year-old Norton woman slapped with a two-year jail sentence for drugs possession

MELULEKI NCUBE - THE NORTON TIMES

NORTON – Mercy Rugoho, of Zimbo Business Centre in Saruwe, was arrested in freaky circumstances recently, a somewhat chance-finding by Norton district police officers pursuing a machete gang that had wreaked havoc at the shopping centre. 

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Rugoho’s initial co-accused, Precious Savheri (36), had her share of the two charges withdrawn after plea for lack of incriminating circumstances.

On 14 October 2024, police raided Zimbo Shopping Centre looking for members of a marauding machete gang believed to have been housed at the complex. 

As they conducted their dawn search, Rugoho was found in possession of 217 satchets of dagga (marijuana) weighing a total of 455g. 

She was also found with 14 bottles of Broncleer cough syrup (100ml).

The State, represented by Prosecutor Arthur Bosha, successfully nailed Rugoho on both charges.

On 17 October 2024, Norton resident magistrate Christina Nyandoro slapped Rugoho with an effective 24 months imprisonment on the dagga count, having suspended 12 of 36 months on condition that the convict does not commit a similar offence for five years. 

She was convicted under the dangerous drugs section of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.

She escaped relatively light on the Broncleer charge, under the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act, getting 60 days in prison with the option of a US$200 fine. 

The court ordered the destruction of the drugs.