By MARISA MWAPE-
THE Kitwe Magistrate’s court has sentenced a 37-year-old woman to three years simple imprisonment for fraudulently collecting money from
unsuspecting members of the public on the pretext that she would get them jobs at Zambia Railways.
Senior resident magistrate Daniel Musonda sent to jail Edah Gondwe after finding her guilty of 12 counts of obtaining money by false pretences.
Gondwe, who cried uncontrollably in court when judgment was delivered, was earlier charged with 29 counts of obtaining money by false pretences. She was, however, acquitted in 17 counts.
She was accused of obtaining K250 from various people between June and July this year by informing them that the money would be used to get a
work suits, boots and identity cards.
In one instance, Gondwe collected K 1,500 from Ephemia Kasonde after promising to get her a job together with her children.
In delivering Judgment, Mr Musonda noted that after collecting huge sums from different people, Gondwe  left for Kapiri Mposhi and later
for Lusaka where she was apprehended by the police.
“In my view the evidence is clear that the accused got varying large amounts of money and I come to a conclusion that she collected money with the intent to steal I hereby find you guilty and convict you accordingly,” Mr Musonda said.
In mitigation, Gondwe said she was remorseful for her actions and asked for leniency from the court.
She asked for forgiveness and that she had learnt lessons from the time she was incarcerated.