Itezhi tezhi court slaps two years sentence to two men for stealing 25 Goats

The Itezhi Tezhi Magistrates Court in Central province has meted out two years sentences with hard labour to two suspects in the theft of 25 goats from a farm in Mbila area of Itezhi Tezhi.

Before Magistrate Munanlula Mubita was Arnold Mukalanga, 33 of Hamatwi Village and his accomplice Sokwe Munakaba, 33 of Chikampa village.

The duo were found guilty of stealing 25 goats valued at K7, 200

Facts before the court were that on September 15 this year, the owner of the goats, Justine Kandulwe released his goats from the kraal so that they could graze in the open grazing area.

The court heard that on the material day Mukalanga and Munakaba spirited the 25 goats away in a truck with an intention to sell them in Lusaka.

The court also heard that Kandulwe searched for his goats but could not find them until when he engaged Itezhi Tezhi police who found the goats in the possession of Mukalanga and Munakaba.

In passing judgment Magistrate Mubita said stock theft was a serious offence which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years but was he going to be lenient since they were first offenders.

He added that in view of the fact that the duo has earlier pleaded guilty to the offence they did no waste court’s time by admitting to the offence.

The Magistrate also said that the culprits seemed to have established market for goats in Lusaka saying “one cannot take goats to a distant place like Lusaka where he has never been and has not secured market”.

Magistrate Munalula ordered the duo to serve 24 months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from 29 September, 2014.

The duo was charged with stock theft contrary to section 3 (10 and 272 of the penal code of the Laws of Zambia.

Meanwhile a-35-year-old man of Basanga area in Itezhi Tezhi district has been fined K1, 500 for beating his debtor for not paying him his money back on time.

Diatry Muleya, 35, was charged with one count of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily harm contrary to section 248 of the penal code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Facts before the court were that Muleya on September 14 this year was at his shop when the person he owed money demanded for his money.

The court heard that when he failed to pay back the money the debtor became impolite to Muleya and this infuriated him causing to beat him and during the fight he knocked out his teeth.

Muleya was later reported to the Itezhi Tezhi police station where he was charged with the subsequent offence.

Muleya who pleaded guilty to the offence asked the court to exercise maximum leniency saying he  was the first offender and that he has 13 children and four wives who would terribly suffer  if he was given a custodial sentence.

In rendering judgment, Magistrate Munalula said that the offence he committed was a serious one which carries a maximum of five years but said the court was going to exercise leniency by giving an option of  K1, 500 fine, failure to pay he will be sent to jail for 9 months.