BY MAKOKWA CLARA MUYENDEKWA
THE Choma magistrate court broke into laughter on Monday when a man accused of theft dramatically told the court that he was a psychiatric patient who needed medical attention.
This is in a case where Moses Mukuku aged 25 of Sibalwa village in Macha area stood charged with theft contrary to section 272 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that Moses Mukuku on November 4, 2021 at Choma District of Southern Province did steal 2 chickens, 1 machete, one pair of safety boots and one spear all valued at K675 property of Gibson Moon.
Gibson Moono, who is the complainant in the Matter told the court that when he went to bed on the 4th of November 2021, his son texted him saying the front security light had gone off.
He narrated that he then went to the chicken run around o4:00 hours the next morning and discovered that 2 chickens were missing which prompted him to go and check at the accused’s house.
” I decided to go and check at the accused’s house because he had stolen some shoes and damaged my security light two days before my chickens went missing,” he said.
Moono further said he found the accused with his machete and reported him to Macha police post where police later recovered the slippers and a spear, property worth K210.
When asked whether he had stolen the said property, the accused said he had just stolen an egg and a chicken and that he is a psychiatric patient who was supposed to get medicine.
And senior Resident Magistrate Peter Mungala allowed the accused to go and get medical help while setting 24 November 2021 for continuation of trial as the accused remains remanded in custody.
