A MAN from Chinsali yesterday pleaded with a Kitwe magistrate’s court to allow him say a prayer after he was convicted of breaking into a building.

Morgan Nkole was before Senior Resident Magistrate Oswald Mwansa Chibalo for judgement after he found guilty, but refused to mitigate and insisted that he was not guilty of the offence.

Nkole told the court that he did not commit the offence , because he was in transit from Chinsali where he lives.

He instead asked if he could say a prayer.

But Mr Chibalo objected to the request and advised Nkole that court was not church and should have prayed at Kamfinsa correctional facility.

Mr Chibalo said then sentenced him to three years imprisonment with hard labour but suspended the sentence and ordered him to go back to Chinsali.

“I declined your prayer because you might pray against me, you said you are from Chinsali so I want you to go back. I should not meet you in Kitwe,” he said.

Nkole on February 18 this year broke into Alefah shop belonging to Jane Nanzala with Intent to commit a felony.