The Itezhi Tezhi magistrates’ court has
sentenced a 29-year-old man of Basanga area in Chief Musungwa’s area in Itezhi
Tezhi district in Central Province to three years imprisonment for stealing
9,214 by 50 kg bags of white maize belonging to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Magistrates Munalula Mubita convicted
Nella Kasamu Cheelo, 29, of Basanga area in Chief Musungwa’s chiefdom after a
lengthy trial which begun in 2013.
Cheelo, who was employed as depot clerk
by FRA, stood charged with theft by servant contrary to Sections 278 and 272 of
the Penal Code of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that
Cheelo, on a day unknown but between 27 July 2012 and 9 December, 2012, in
Itezhi Tezhi at Itezhi Tezhi district, being a person employed by FRA as a
depot clerk, jointly while acting together with others unknown, did steal 9,214
by 50 kg bags of white maize together valued at K598, 910.00, property of the
said FRA, his employer.
Cheelo pleaded not guilty to the
offence but after many testimonies from witnesses brought by the prosecution,
he was found guilty.
In mitigation, Cheelo pleaded for
maximum leniency on grounds that he was a first offender, married and that he regretted
his actions.
Delivering judgment, magistrate Mubita
said, “The offence you committed was a serious one. Government bought that
maize at huge public expense and for you to steal such a staggering number of
bags you need to be punished,” he said.
‘I have noted that you are a first
offender and you wasted the court’s time by pleading not guilty
and that you are entitled to leniency but the offence of
theft is too prevalent in Itezhi Tezhi district, therefore, the court will
punish you to deter would-be offenders.
Magistrates Mubita then sentenced him
to three years imprisonment with hard labour but informed him that the sentence
is subject to high confirmation.
The sentence is with effect from
October 15, 2015
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