By YVONNE CHATE –
A TAXI driver has told the Ndola Magistrate Court that he stole because he wanted to facilitate the renewal of his driver’s license.
Simbalasha Kaunda, 22, of house number 0717 Mushili Township told Ndola magistrate Oswald Chibalo after he was convicted of theft that he stole because he wanted to renew his driver’s licence.
On December 22, 2014 Kaunda stole a television stand, two television sets, four car batteries and a grinder all valued at K12, 800 from Julius Kaunda of Mushili.
The complainant told the court that on the said date, he woke up and discovered that some items were missing from his house.
He reported the matter to Mushili police station and some item have since been recovered as exhibits.
When the matter came before court for facts yesterday, Kaunda was convicted.
In mitigation, Kaunda asked for forgiveness saying that he had learnt a lesson and would never repeat his actions.
Magistrate Chibalo sentenced him to three years imprisonment with hard labour.
Meanwhile, a twenty-one-year old man of Ndola’s Kawama Township has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour for burglary and theft.
Facts are that on October 3, 2014 Kelvin Manyika broke into a house of Muyanga Simmata and stole a television set, a home theatre, a mattress, three iron sheets all valued at K1, 483.
Manyika also got away with K350.
Manyika told the court that he was hungry, so he stole the items and sold to earn money which he later used to get beers.
In mitigation, he asked for leniency that he was looking after his mother because he was fatherless.
Magistrate Chibalo sentenced Manyika to three years in prison with hard labour.