Mulenga Musonda writes
A 41 years old Mechanic will spend five years in Jail for stealing a Vehicle from his employer which he started selling in parts.
In this matter James Mapiya of Choma’s Zambia Township was convicted of Theft of a Motor Vehicle contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that Mapiya on June 5 in Choma, stole an Opel Corsa Vehicle valued at K70,000 the property of his employer Kings Centre.
According to evidence on record, Mapiya disappeared with the vehicle after he returned from attending to a break down he was instructed to by his boss.
After his disappearance, he switched off his phone but was apprehended two weeks later in Monze after a manhunt was launched by the Police.
The Vehicle was found suspended on Stones with all the Tyres and Battery missing. Mapiya also went further to remove the Company Logo stickers on the Vehicle.
When he appeared for judgement before Court, Senior Resident Magistrate Idah Mupemo found Mapiya guilty after establishing that he converted the Vehicle to his own use and had the intentions of depriving the owner permanently.
She said this was evidenced by his action of selling the Tyres, Battery and removing the Company Logo on the Vehicle without consulting the owner. Despite being a first offender and being remorseful of his actions, Magistrate Mupemo slapped Mapiya with the mandatory minimum 5 years imprisonment term with hard labour effective date of arrest.