Six get 5 years for K250,000 cash, safe heist

MULENGA MUSONDA writes THE Choma Magistrates Court has convicted six organised Criminals who staged a break in and got away with over 350,000 worth of property and Cash belonging to a Business house. Appearing before Senior Resident Magistrate Idah Mupemo were YonaMabala, 38, a business man, McCloud Milimo 38 a Driver, Mike Zulu a Taxi Driver, Martin Chembe Tembo, 45, a Carpenter, Bright Makasa 46 a Bus Driver all of Lusaka, Brian Phiri 39 a Bricklayer of Ndola and Modern Maambo 34 a Taxi Driver of Chisekesi stood charged with Breaking into a Building and Committing a Felony therein. Particulars of the offence are that the 7 jointly and whilst acting together with another person unknown broke into the Office of LudyInvestments with intent to commit a felony and stole therein K247,940 Cash, 1 Safe and 1 Central Processing Unit all valued at K376,440 the property of the named Ludy Investments. The heist happened between 1st and 2nd June 2020 in Choma district of Southern Province. When the 7 appeared for plea before Court,they all admitted to breaking into the Office and getting away with the Cash and other items except for Maambo who strongly denied the charge. The six who were represented by Counsel Enock Hangwemu from KBF and Partners seemed composed and in high spirit as they told the Court that they indeed broke into the said office and had no lawful justification or claim of right to do what they did. According to the Facts stated by Senior Public Prosecutor Alex Syulikwa, the heist was staged around 21:00hrs after the workers had knocked off only leaving the Security Guard to keep vigil at the premises. He said around that time the Guard saw an Ipsum Vehicle RegNo. AJC 3023 drive into the premises with unknown people forcing him to hide as he observed them go to the office and take away the listed things. The Guard reported to the Police after the heist and a run of the number plate led to the Vehicle being impounded in Chisekese. The Driver of the Vehicle helped in investigation which led to the apprehension of the 6 suspects and the recovery of only K2,500 cash, the CPU and safe. After the Facts were read, all the 6 admitted that the statement was a true reflection of what happened. In sentencing the accused person’s after finding them guilty in their own admission, Magistrate Mupemo said the 6 were misfits to society and there sentence was to deter would be offenders as theft had become so rampant In Choma. The Sun