MUBANGA NONDO – Ndola
NDOLA magistrate Changa Chitabo has imposed a nine-month jail sentence with hard labour on a man of Ndola’s Lubuto West  for stealing property worth over K7, 000 from a vehicle.
Ben Mbewe, 28, of house number 3396 was charged with theft from motor vehicle.
Mr Chitabo on Tuesday convicted Mbewe on his own unequivocal plea of guilty.
“Based on your own admission of the facts, I find you guilty as charged and I convict you accordingly. I have taken note of your mitigation and the fact that you are a first offender.
“I, hereby, sentence you to nine months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from the date you were arrested,” Mr Chitabo said.
He granted Mbewe leave to appeal to the High Court within 14 days.
Mbewe on December 15 last year in Ndola, stole a laptop, two cellphones,  handbag and a purse altogether worth K7,300 from a Toyota Carib registration number ACH 9380 belonging to Josiah Chimombe.
In mitigation, Mbewe asked the court for forgiveness because he is married with one child and his wife is expecting.
Facts before court were that Mr Chimombe parked his car in Mushili township after securing it.
Mr Chimombe later discovered that the drivers’ door was open when returned to the vehicle and some property was missing.
He reported the matter to Masala Police Station and police instituted investigations which led to Mbewe’s arrest
Mbewe later led police officers to the recovery of the property.