RABECCA BANDA writes
THE Lusaka Magistrates Court has sentenced two thieves to 8 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing four tins of Kiwi shoe polish worth K185.96.
John Banda, 27 of Lilanda and Paul Tembo, 20, of the same area admitted stealing the polish before Magistrate Chanda Nsunge.
Facts before the court read by senior public prosecutor Valerian Chulu, were that the two while acting together stole four tins of Kiwi polish from Shoprite Checkers at Cosmopolitan Mall on July 22.
In the matter, Kapumba Sikanyika, a non-food packer represented Shoprite.
Sikanyika was called by a security guard around 16:00 hours on the material day who informed him that the two accused persons stole two tins of Kiwi polish each.
The security guard informed Sikanyika that Banda and Tembo hid the tins of polish in their under pants and we’re caught at the exit.
The two were questioned and later detained at Embassy police station where they admitted stealing the items after an interrogation.
In mitigation, the two asked for forgiveness saying they did not not know it was a crime to steal and promised not to do it again.
But Magistrate Nsunge said anyone who stole was liable to imprisonment.