A NATIONAL Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC) employee was over the weekend dragged to court for allegedly conspiring to steal more than 15 900 litres of ethanol valued at US$17 536 from the company’s Msasa depot in Harare.

Liberty Rice (40) appeared before Harare magistrate Ethel Chichera charged with theft of trust

He was remanded in custody until today pending bail consideration.

The court heard that he was employed as a tank operator at NOIC’s Msasa depot and was responsible for receiving ethanol shipments from Chisumbanje and overseeing fuel storage.

NOIC is being represented by its loss and control officer Elton Mangombe.Prosecutor Dzidzai Josiah told the court that on January 14 this year, Rice allegedly connived with his accomplice Tichaona Mazani, who is still at large, to steal from NOIC.

Mazani allegedly received 40 000 litres of ethanol from Green Fuel in Chisumbanje intended for delivery to NOIC’s Msasa depot.

However, only 24 034 litres were delivered, with 15 942 litres allegedly diverted to personal use.

To conceal the shortfall, Rice falsified tank dip measurements, indicating that 40 000 litres had been received.