Cattle Rustler in Chipata jailed 5 years
By Staff Reporter
Chipata Magistrate Court has sentenced a Chipata resident, Watch Zulu to five years imprisonment with hard labour for stock theft.
Appearing before Resident Magistrate Boniface Mwala was Zulu who pleaded guilty to the offence, while his co-accused Chembe Mwanza pleaded not guilty.
Facts of the matter are that on February 27, 2017, the complainant discovered that one cow was missing from his kraal and later received information that Zulu and Mwanza were selling a it in town. He was further informed that the two had been apprehended by the police.
In mitigation, the convict told the court that he is taking care of eight orphans.
In passing ruling Magistrate Mwala said the court had considered his mitigation and that he is a first offender who did not waste the court’s time as he readily admitted the offence.
He however said the offence carries a minimum sentence of five years, which he slapped on with hard labour effective from the day of his arrest.
He advised him to appeal to the High Court if he is not satisfied with the judgement.
In respect of Mwanza, magistrate Mwala has set November 23, 2017 for commencement of trial.
