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A 33-year-old man from Chainda Compound, Jesus Baelo, has been sentenced to six months in prison with hard labour after he was caught stealing a Samsung Note 20 Ultra worth K14,500 from a store counter.
Baelo, a familiar face at Garden House Mall, was exposed by CCTV footage which showed him pocketing the phone.
The theft occurred on December 19 when Felix Maluba visited the mall to buy a cake and inadvertently left his phone on the counter.
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When he returned to find the phone missing, the sales assistant denied seeing it.
After reviewing the CCTV footage, the store manager identified Baelo, leading to his arrest.
Appearing before Magistrate Fine Mayambu, Baelo admitted to the theft.
In mitigation, he pleaded for mercy, citing his health problems and responsibilities as a father of two.
However, when asked for proof of his illness, Baelo stated that his wife had the medical documents.
Magistrate Mayambu, while acknowledging Baelo’s remorse and status as a first-time offender, emphasized the seriousness of theft, stating it carries a maximum sentence of five years.
The court sentenced Baelo to six months in jail with hard labour, effective from the date of his arrest.
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