A man of Chipata district has been sentenced to 8 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing iron sheets contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Facts of the matter are that on March 16, 2017, Zulu stole Iron sheets valued at 220 Kwacha, property of Elina Phiri but denied the charge.
Chipata Principal Resident Magistrate Janepher Bwalya said she was satisfied with what was testified about the accused person and found him guilty of the offence despite the property being recovered.
In mitigation, Phiri asked the court to exercise lenience on him because he was a first offender who only bought the stolen property from another person.
Magistrate Bwalya said she took note of Phiri’s mitigation but that the offence he committed was a serious one which attracted a maximum sentence of five years.
She asked Phiri to appeal to the High Court within fourteen days if he was not satisfied with the sentence.