Young Chinsali thief jailed

—–A 20-year- old man in Chinsali District of Muchinga Province has been jailed for 18 months with hard labour for theft.

Shedrick Mulenga, 20, of Joseph Village in Senior Chief Nkula`s area in Chinsali District was charged with one count of theft contrary to Section 272 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that on March 27 this year, Mulenga did steal KR1, 200.00 cash, property of Trizah Malaila.

Facts before the court were that on April 12 this year,   Malaila had put the money in her hand bag amounting to KR 1,200.00 while she was selling at the market and decided to go home and collect some more products to sell leaving the bag behind.

She said upon her return at the market, she found her hand bag thrown on the ground and after checking inside, it was discovered that the money was missing.

An eye witness, Malimu Mutale, told the court that he saw Shedrick Mulenga tampering with Malaila`s hand bag.

Mulenga was then apprehended and put in police custody at Chinsali Police Station where he was found with a KR300.00 out of the KR1, 200.00.

Mulenga told the court that he stole the money to enable him buy books to use at school.

Mulenga pleaded not guilty.

In passing judgment, Magistrate Shedrick Chanda said he had found Mulenga guilty as charged and convicted him accordingly.

Magistrate Chanda told Mulenga that stealing is the worst thing Mulenga could do because at 20 he is still young and energetic to indulge himself in such acts.

Magistrate Chanda said he had taken into consideration the mitigation of Mulenga but that the offence committed was serious.

He said that he was sending Mulenga to prison for one year six months in order for him to learn that it does not pay to steal.

In mitigation, Mulenga told the court to exercise maximum lenience on him, saying he will never steal again and that he is a double orphan.