A 30-year-old man of Namwanga Village in Paramount Chief Chitimukulu’s  Chiefdom in Mungwi District in Northern Province has been sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour for theft.

.This is in a matter that came up for sentencing before Magistrate Willie Banda in which Daniel Sichalwe a peasant farmer was charged with  theft contrary to Section 272 of the penal code Chapter 87of the Laws of Zambia.

 

Particulars of the offence are that on December 16, 2024, in Kasama District in Northern Province Sichalwe did steal three beds altogether valued at 750.00 Kwacha the property of  Ronald Mfula.

 

In mitigation, Sichalwe  pleaded with the  court for leniency saying he has a field of maize which if he was to be sent to prison will be left unattended to and that he has two children who he takes care of.

And Magistrate Willie Banda in his sentencing said he heard the accused’s mitigation but that the case that the accused committed is a serious offence which goes up to five years imprisonment with hard labour.

He added that  the accused  had no Lawful justification to do what he did and that he can not go without being punished.

 

“I have heard your mitigation and your case can not go unpunished. I have heard that you are the first offender and you deserve leniency and I therefore, sentence you to three months imprisonment with hard labour starting from December 16, 2024,

He then reminded him that if he is not happy with the sentencing he can appeal before the high court within two weeks,” he said.

He further urged the accused to stop stealing.

” You should stop stealing from people and just because I have given you three months do not take advantage and say since it’s three months I can finish the sentence and steal again. We are keeping records and once you steal again I will sentence you to five years imprisonment with hard labour,” he said.

He further ordered that the beds be given to the complainant immediately.