By CHATULA KAMPO –
THE Ndola Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced a 20-year-old man to three months in prison with hard labour for stealing onions valued at K20.
Magistrate Chitundu Chongo convicted Hanseni Phiri of Munkulungwe area in Ndola upon his own admission of guilt to the charge.
Phiri on September 24, in Ndola stole onions valued at K20, property of Francis Chikomo of the same area.
The facts in the matter were that the convict on the material day was found picking onions from Mr Chikomo’s garden by Vaid Tindi, the complainant’s friend.
“Mr Tindi phoned the complainant to verify if it was true that he had allowed Phiri to pick onions from his garden.
“It was later discovered that the complainant did not ask the convict to do so,” the facts read.
Phiri was later taken to Kang’onga Police Post where he was arrested and charged for theft contrary to Section 272 of the Penal Code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
In mitigation, Phiri pleaded for leniency and told the court that he was taking care of his grandmother.
In passing the sentence, Magistrate Chongo said he had considered Phiri’s mitigation and that he was a first offender who readily admitted to the charge.
She, however, sentenced him to three months in prison with hard labour.
