MUBANGA NONDO, Ndola
A 26-YEAR-OLD man of Nkwazi township in Ndola has been sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour by the Ndola Magistrate’s Court for breaking into a house and stealing household goods worth over K1,000
Magistrate Eston Kafunyi last Thursday convicted Charles Kasongo of house number 1517 after finding him guilty of burglary and theft.
“I have perused through the evidence of the prosecution and I am satisfied that they have proved their case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
“I, therefore, sentence the accused to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from August 5, 2014, the date on which you were arrested,” Mr Kafunyi said.
He granted Kasongo leave to appeal to the High Court within 14 days.
Kasongo on July 26 this year in Ndola, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown,  broke into Patrick Chama’s house and stole a home theatre system, motor vehicle battery, a solar inverter and three garden chairs altogether worth K1,215.
In mitigation, Kasongo asked the court to be lenient on him because he is married man with two children.
During trial, Mr Chama told the court that he heard his children screaming for help when suspected burglars broke into their house through the window.
Mr Chama testified that he managed to apprehend Kasongo but his accomplices ran away.
In his defence, Kasongo told the court that he was falsely implicated in the case.
Kasongo claimed that he was apprehended when passing by Mr Chama’s house while the burglary was in progress.