Mumbwa man, 30, sentenced to 20 years for stock theft.

Mumbwa man, 30, sentenced to 20 years for stock theft.

Mumbwa, February 12, ZANIS…. A 30 year old man of Mumbwa district was yesterday sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour by Mumbwa Magistrate court for stock theft.

Exaviour Mutamina of Malole Village in Chief Mulendema was convicted on four counts of stock theft of which each run for five years consecutively.

In the first count, Mutamina was on February 19, 2013, accused of stealing one cow value at K2, 000 the property of Sam Mwiinde of the same area.

In the second count the accused is on April 14, 2013 said to stolen one cow valued at K2, 000 property of Jonathan Kabize.

Particulars of the third count are that Mutamina on May 13, 2013 said to have stolen two cows both valued at K4, 000 the property of Titus Chakalala.

In the last count the accused on May 17, 2013 is said to have stolen one cow also valued at K2, 000 the property of Mike Mweene.

The accused denied all the four counts.

In mitigation, Mutamina said he was a bread winner who was looking after three orphans and two children and that he is on separation with his wife.

Matumina also caused laughter in the court when he asked for lenience saying that he stole because he wanted to settle the debts he owes his in law after marrying their daughter who is now on separation.

In passing judgment, Mumbwa Magistrate Christopher Matipa said he had heard the mitigation but the offence he committed were serious and carry a minimum mandatory sentence of five years.

Magistrate Matipa explained that the sentence would deter other would be offenders especially that the accused committed the same offence on different days.

Magistrate Matipa however said in exercising lenience he opted to go for a minimum sentence of each count to five years to run consecutively subject to confirmation by the High Court.