By CHILA NAMAIKO –
A BRICKLAYER of Choma has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment with hard labour by the Choma magistrates’ court for breaking into a shop and attempting to steal from a slot machine.
Moomba Michelo, 31, of Hospital Township pleaded guilty to breaking into a building with intent to commit a felony. On November 19, 2014, Michelo broke into Sola Sola Shop in Choma.
On the material day around 18:00 hours, Sola Sola Game shop was closed and around 02:00 hours, a security officer identified as a Mr Mulonga who was guarding the premises heard some noise inside the shop.
When he peeped inside the building, he saw Michelo trying to get coins from a gambling machine and shouted for help to apprehend Michelo.
Michelo then escaped from the building through the roof and the matter was reported to police, leading to the arrest of Michelo.
In mitigation, Michelo asked for leniency saying he was a breadwinner and if he was sent to jail his family would suffer.
In passing judgment, Magistrate Mbololwa Mukela, however, said the offence Michelo committed attracted a maximum of seven years but would send him to jail for two and half years.
