YOUTH WINS CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE FOR AGGRAVATED ROBBERY

RABECCA BANDA writes

@SunZambian

THE Lusaka Magistrates Court has ordered a conditional discharge of a 17-year-old juvenile who has spent 11 months in prison for aggravated robbery on recommendations from the social welfare department.

This was heard when the matter came up for the social welfare report before Magistrate Nsunge Chanda.

The boy said pleaded with the court for mercy and promised not to commit the offence again.

His mother said the boy was her first son and that she was a single mother taking care of five children.

She said she was not happy with the offence her son committed and now wanted him to go back school.

She said her son has been in prison for close to a year and pleaded for the courts leniency.   A social welfare probation officer pleaded for an absolute discharge considering the 11 months the boy spent in prison.

Magistrate Chanda said aggravated robbery is a serious offence and the sentence was death.

“You were supposed to be tried by the high court. Human life is precious; do not attack and steal from people. Always ask yourself, when your mother gave birth to you, did she give birth to a criminal,

“Go to school and be content. What good have you found in prison? Can you change for the better? I do not want to see you here again. If found with the case again I will order you to nine months imprisonment at the juvenile prison,” she said.

The court granted the boy a conditional discharge that he should not commit the offence for a second time.