By MAKOKWA CLARA MUYENDEKWA
A MAN of Choma District has been sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labor for stealing two chickens and a pair of safety boots.
25 year old Moses Mukuku of Macha mission hospital in Choma District was facing a charge of theft contrary to section 272 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offense are that on November 4, 2021, Moses Mukuku did steal two chickens, 1 machete, a spear and safety boots all valued at K675 property of Gibson Moono.
In its findings after three witnesses had testified against the accused person, the court explained that the said property was indeed stolen and that the accused had admitted to the charge.
The court further said the evidence linking the accused to the offence was the machete and safety boots being found in his house and did not justify why he took the said items.
According to the testimony of Mukobele Aubrey, clerk of courts at the Choma magistrate court, the accused person had been convicted of the similar offence in March 2020.
He was sentenced on three counts of theft and was on March 3, 2020 sentenced six months, three months and three months on three counts of theft respectively.
The sentences were suspended for four months on condition that he does not commit an offence within the same period.
And in Mitigation, the convict asked for lenience saying he was a psychiatric patient who needed medication.
“Your honor if I go to prison I will not write my exams, I want to rewrite my grade twelve under General Certificate Examination next year,” he said.
However, Senior Resident Magistrate Peter Mungala sentenced the convict to five years imprisonment with hard labor saying he had not reformed.
He further explained that the offence committed was a felony but that he had considered the value of items recovered.
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