MAN JAILED FOR SHOPLIFTING LADIES CYCLE PANTS

THE Itezhi Tezhi Magistrates Court has slapped a 30-day jail term on a shoplifter who stole clothes worth K211 from Pep Stores.

Magistrates Mugala Chalwe convicted Nchimunya Chelebela , 40, a fisherman of Kataba Compound after he pleaded guilty of shoplifting ladies cyclers from Pep Stores.

Chelebela was arrested on July, 20, 2020 and was charged with theft.

Particulars of the offense are that Chelebela on July 17, 2020 in Itezhi Tezhi did steal 4 ladies cycle pants valued at K211.60n, the Property of Pep Stores.

Facts before court were that on July,17 , 2020 around 15:30 hours , the complainant in the matter Zacharia Makwayanga, the Manager at Pep Store was on duty standing at the entrance of the store when Chelebela entered the store for shopping.

The court heard that Chelebela was treated like any other customer and after a while the offender left the shop but the Shop Manager observed that his posture and demeanor was different as compared to the time he entered the store.

It was also disclosed before the court that when Nchimunya reached at the corner of the store,

Makwayanga called the offender back but he opted to run out of the shop until he was pursued and searched and was found with four ladies cycle pants hidden under his garment.

Makwayanga then apprehended Nchimunya and reported the matter to Itezhi Tezhi Police Station where he valued the stolen property at K211.60.

After conducting investigations, Police charged and arrested the offender for the subject offence.

During the same court session State Prosecutor Sydney Jere stated that Nchimunya had had no justification to steal the items in question and had no bonafide right to the stolen property.

In passing judgment, Magistrates Chalwe found the offender guilty of the charge and sentenced him to 30 days simple imprisonment with effect from the day he was arrested.

In mitigation, Nchimunya appealed for leniency as he had realized that what he did was wrong in consideration of him being the first offender and that he was on drugs arguing that if sent to jail, he would lose focus on the treatment. -