By MULENGA MUSONDA
THE four men and one juvenile who were arraign in the Choma Magistrates Court for stealing railway sleepers have been convicted by the Choma Magistrates Court after they changed their plea of not guilty to guilty.
In this matter Gift Maseka , 26, Sam Sianungwa, 20, both businessmen, Casius Njalika, 20, Lumuno Siamujayi ,25, all farmers and a 17-year-old Juvenile all of Choma District stood charged with theft.
Particulars of the offence are that the five jointly and whilst acting together stole 35 railway sleepers valued at K8,400 the property of Zambia Railways Limited.
The incident happened on March 19 2020 in Choma’s Munzuma area.
When the matter came up for trial before Magistrate Muyambango Munukayumbwa, the five accused persons asked the court that they retake plea.
When the Court granted the application and read to them the charge, they all pleaded guilty.
According to facts read by Public Prosecutor Coillard Sikwalulwa, the five were intercepted by Zambia Railways Police around 01:00hrs in Choma’s Munzuma area with a Canter registration number AJB 2060 loaded with the sleepers.
At the Police Station the men revealed that they wanted to sell the sleepers as scrap metal.
Magistrate Munukayumbwa then sentenced the 4 men except for the juvenile to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour but suspended the sentence for 12 months.
The court then set April 21 2020 for social welfare report and possible sentencing of the juvenile.
Railway sleepers thieves get 18 months
