VICTORIA KASANGA writes
@SunZambian
A 33-year-old man in Ndola will spend 18 months behind bars for stealing a bicycle which he intended to sell after failing to raise money legitimately.
Morgan Sinyangwe told the court that he had tried all means possible to raise money to take his sick child to the hospital but failed.
He said his child had been sick and required drugs, but that he had no money to meet the expenses, hence his resolve to burglary and theft.
He said this when his case came up for reading of facts and sentencing before Ndola magistrate Ben Akende.
Sinyangwe broke into Emmanuel Nyekesha’s house where he stole property.
According to the facts before the court, on February 28 this year, Mr Nyekesha went to sleep leaving the house well secured.
However, around 02:00 hours he was awaken by the strange noise in the house and went to check what was happening.
To his surprise, he found that the bicycle and other items missing.
When Sinyangwe was apprehended, he admitted having stolen and led the officers to recovery of one bicycle valued at K1,000.
He was taken to Kaloko police post where the complainant gave the value of stolen properties as K1,300.
In mitigation, Sinyangwe pleaded for lenience as he was a first offender and that he had four children.
He said he was the one responsible for taking care of the domestic animals at the farm and that he would not repeat taking something that did not belong to him.
Mr Akende said he had considered that the accused was a first offender and sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour in order to prevent other would-be offenders.
