Ndola Man, 20, Jailed For Stealing Battery

By MUBANGA NONDO
A 20-YEAR-OLD man of Lubuto in Ndola has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a heavy duty battery worth K1, 400.
Ndola magistrate Ben Akende on Monday jailed Mutale Manase of house number 0101, after he pleaded guilty to theft from a motor vehicle.
The offence is contrary to Section 281 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that Manase on December 23, last year, in Ndola, stole a heavy duty battery worth K1, 400 from George Sinyangwe’s Volvo tipper truck.
When the matter came up for plea, Manase told the court that he stole the battery because he wanted to sell it to raise transport money to enable him travel to the village for his grandmother’s funeral.
Passing the sentence, Mr Akende said he had considered the fact that Manase is a first offender who readily admitted the charge without wasting the court’s time.
“I have also heard your mitigation and as such leniency will be awarded to you accordingly. I, therefore, sentence you to nine months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from December 27, 2013,” Mr Akende said.
He granted Manase leave to appeal to the High Court within 14 days.
In mitigation, Manase asked the court to exercise leniency on him because his grandmother had died and his mother is unwell.