I wanted to steal the Church bench, man tells court

By MULENGA MUSONDA

A 24-YEAR-OLD man confessed before the Choma Magistrates Court that he stealthily entered the premises of a Church on Christmas Day with the intention of stealing a bench.

In this matter, Willard Masuku was appearing in court charged with criminal trespass contrary to the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Masuku with intent to annoy or steal entered the premises of Christian Pentecostal Church of Choma without authorisation.  The incident happened on December 25, 2020.

When the matter came up for trial after Musuku pleaded not guilty earlier by stating that he was just passing through the church, he applied to the court that he be given the chance to retake plea.

Magistrate Muyambango Munukayumbwa granted him his application and read the charge to him for the second time to which he admitted.

In his admission, Musuku confessed that he wanted to steal the bench belonging to the church on that fateful night.

The court recorded a plea of guilty and adjourned the matter to February 8 for facts and sentencing.

Musuku was remanded in custody.