A KITWE Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 36-year-old man of Chimwemwe Township to 12 months simple imprisonment but suspended for one year for stealing vegetables in a garden. Chola Phiri was charged with theft contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Allegations were that on June 9, 2018, in Kitwe, Phiri stole vegetables worth K100 from Marvin Mulenga. Appearing before magistrate Leonard Tembo for plea, Phiri admitted having stolen the said vegetables. Phiri told the court that he stole the vegetables so that he could cook and eat them.

Magistrate Tembo said upon the accused person’s own admission of the offence, he had found him guilty and was convicting him accordingly. In mitigation, Phiri begged the court to exercise maximum leniency as he had learnt a lesson.
Magistrate Tembo said he had heard what had been said in mitigation and that the accused was a first offender who deserved the court’s leniency.