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A 27-year-old police officer, Given Kayelu, has been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing an AK-47 rifle valued at K3,000.
Kayelu was found guilty of theft by a public servant after he withdrew the firearm from the armoury at government printers and took it to Gwembe without permission or authority.
According to Lusaka Magistrate, Ireen Wishimanga, Kayelu had no right to the firearm as it was not assigned to him.
The court also found that Kayelu’s actions were suspicious, as he withdrew the firearm from the armoury when he knew he was going on leave.
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The intention, the court ruled, was to deprive the government of its property. In mitigation, Kayelu’s lawyer argued that the convict was a first offender who was remorseful and of youthful age.
He requested a lenient punishment, suggesting a suspended sentence could be the best option for him to reform.
However, the court sentenced Kayelu to 24 months imprisonment with hard labour, effective June 7, 2024, when he was apprehended after breaching his bail conditions.
The court hoped that the sentence would serve as a lesson to would-be offenders.
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