Goat theft lands 21 year old in jail
THE Luwingu Subordinate Court has sentenced a 21-yearold man to three years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a goat.
Derrick Mulenga 21 of Kondamu village in Chief Chitoshi’s area in Lunte district was convicted after he pleaded guilty to the offence of stock theft.
Derrick appeared before Luwingu Resident Magistrate Maybin Kapaya after being charged with one count of stock theft contrary to section 282 (B) (1) (a) as amended number 20 of 2023 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are SHOP FOR RENT that on March 1st, 2024, Derrick stole a goat belonging to Bernard Mulenga of the same village.
It is alleged that after stealing metres prime the goat, he sold it to Theresa Mwamba who later slaughtered village. Zambia but when Resident and sold the carcass to unsuspecting
He was told that the goat was Magistrate read the charge to customers during the
along seen with Derrick who had sold him, Derrick pleaded guilty. Munanda mobile market.
it to Theresa Mwamba. And when asked why he Bernard told the court that
This is when he made up his committed the crime, Derrick on March 1st 2024, he secured
mind and reported the matter said he wanted to sell and raise Kafue Road. his animals before going to bed
to the police station. money to buy food stuff. but discovered one was missing
Police arrested and charged Resident Magistrate Kapaya the following day.
him with one count of stock said he was happy that the convict The message of the missing
theft contrary to the laws of did not waste the court’s goat was announced in the entire
0977 400460 time but said the case of stock theft carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment with hard labour.
In his mitigation, Derrick appealed to the Resident Magistrate to exercise lenience because both parents died and he was responsible for keeping his siblings.
He further explained that he learnt that stealing is bad during
PRIVATE C the time he was in remand prison stating he needed to work extra hard.
Magistrate Kapaya said the accused deserved lenience as
UNIVERSIT he was a first offender who readily admitted to the charge.
He however said it is the duty of the courts to impose stiffer penalties Promoting to deter offenders Stand by punishing people like him. Resident Magistrate Kapaya
ARE YO further said that offences of goat theft were rampant in Luwingu and other surrounding districts.
COLLEGE O He sentenced him to 3 years imprisonment with hard labour effective March 2nd 2024.