THE Magistrate Court in Luwingu has sentenced a 25-year-old man of Chibomfwe Village in Chief Tungati’s Chiefdom in Luwingu District to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour for theft.
Before Luwingu Resident Magistrate Sharon Luhanga was Tresford Mpundu who was facing one count of stock theft contrary to section 282 (1) (a) of Act number 20 of 2023 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
ZANIS reports that this is in a matter in which Mpundu was appearing before the court for trial.
Particulars of the offence were that on December 24, 2024, Mpundu jointly and whilst acting together with another person’s unknown did steal a goat valued at K1000 the property of Betha Musonda of the same village.
The theft occurred on December 24th, 2024, in Chibofwe village when the owner discovered that a goat was missing after securing it with the rest.
The owner of the goat discovered that it was missing after securing it and started following footsteps until she found the goat in Mpundu’s possession as he was going to his home with intent to slaughter it with his friends.
His friends, after noticing that the owner was following them, ran into the nearby bush.
Following the evidence brought before the court during trial Luwingu Resident Magistrate Sharon Luhanga found the accused guilty and convicted him accordingly.
In mitigation, Mpundu pleaded with the court to be lenient saying he was married to a disabled wife and has three children who if sent on custodial sentence would be safer as the wife cannot manage to look after herself and the family.
In passing judgement Luwingu Resident Magistrate Shoron Luhanga said she has taken into consideration Mpundu’s mitigation and the fact he was a first offender.
Magistrate Luhanga, however, stated that the case in question was a serious one that needed the court’s intervention to deter would-be offenders.
She said it is the duty of the court to ensure a stiffer penalty is imposed on such offenders.
Magistrate Luhanga then sentenced Mpundu to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labor with effect from the date of arrest and informed him of right to appeal within 14 days.
