By Makokwa Clara Muyendekwa
The Choma magistrate court has sentenced two men to eight months imprisonment with hard labor for stealing a plough and chain.
In this matter, Treble Mweemba aged 42 and Gerald Mukonka, 33, both farmers of Chief Macha’s chiefdom were charged with theft contrary to section 272 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Brief facts before court are that on January 9, 2022 Genius Mukonka, the complainant in the matter secured his property but found it missing the following morning when he woke up to go plough his field.
He then followed footprints and passed through the home of Andrew Muchaala whom he informed about the stolen plough and chain.
The complainant then received a phone call after two days from Andrew Muchaala saying he had seen the plough with the accused persons.
The property was then identified and taken together with the accused persons to the headman and Mbabala police post.
Court records show that the stolen property was valued at K2, 120 and was recovered in the process of apprehension.
In his mitigation the first accused person asked for lenience saying he was looking after orphans who would suffer if sent to prison.
“I will never again steal from anyone and I am very sorry for committing this offence,” said the first accused person.
The second accused person told the court that he has seven children and looks after his mum begging that they would suffer if he was sent to jail.
Senior Resident Magistrate Peter Mungala considered that the accused persons were first time offenders who readily admitted the charge and did not waste the court’s time.
He also considered that their mitigation and that the stolen items were recovered.
Magistrate Mungala sentenced the accused persons to eight months imprisonment each with hard Labor and ordered that the recovered items be given back to the rightful owner.
Author
