MAN JAILED 5 YEARS FOR STOCK THEFT
Written by Millennium on September 26, 2019
Mulenga Musonda writes
@SunZambian
A 33-year old man of Pemba District, in Southern Province, has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by the Choma Magistrates Court for stealing 2 cows.
In his mitigation, the convict, Bright Hamweenda, begged court to exercise maximum lenience on him because he had many orphans and dependents to look after.
This was in a matter Hamweenda and Brian Namwanda, who is already serving a 5 years Jail term for a similar offence, pleaded guilty to a charge of stock theft, contrary to section 275 and 272, chapter 87 of the Penal Code of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that, the two, on Aug.7, 2019, jointly and whilst acting together, stole 2 cows valued at K20, 000, the property of Christopher Mutembo of West Acre Farms.
The two were apprehended by a team of game rangers, led by police detective constable, Malolela Morgan, after word went round that the two were selling meat.
They were found in their possession of 63 kilograms of semi dried meat concealed in two separate bags.
When the matter came up for judgment before resident magistrate Ethel Phiri, the court ruled despite that no one saw the suspect steal the animals, the evidence on record showed that he was an accomplice.
After analyzing the evidence, Magistrate Phiri found the accused guilty and convicted him accordingly.
And in passing judgment, the magistrate said she had taken into consideration the accused’s mitigation statement and the fact that he was a first offender.
However, she said, the offence committed was a serious one and carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years with hard labour.
“I hereby sentence you to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from your date of arrest and if not happy you have the right to appeal within 14 days” she said.
