Court jails Muvi Television security guard 6 years for stealing items worth over K.1million

Lusaka Magistrate, Trevor Kasanda, has sentenced a 25 year old man to six years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing properties worth more than K110,000 belonging to MUVI Television.

In this matter, Kampamba Mwape, 25, Kelvin Kambila, 24, Kambani Kapila, 42, and Shownslous Mwanza are facing one count of breaking into a building with intent to commit felony.

Previously, when the matter came up for plea, Kambani Kapila, Muvi TV security guard admitted the charge and the court sentenced him to six years imprisonment, while it acquitted Kelvin Kambila and Shownslous Mwanza after finding them not guilty.

But when the matter came up for judgement on Friday, Kasanda found Mwape guilty and convicted him accordingly.

Kasanda in his ruling said the state proved their case beyond reasonable doubt through their witnesses that, indeed, a felony was committed after breaking into the building.

It is alleged that between December 16 and 17, 2022, Mwape, Kambila, Kapila and Mwanza, jointly and whilst acting together, with intent to steal, broke and entered into MUVI television building and stole 5×22-inch Concord Television sets, three Apple Mac computers, one HP desktop computer, one CPU monitor, a keyboard and one point of sale machine, altogether valued at K111,650, the property of MUVI television.

“I am satisfied that there was a breaking in the building.The offense was committed. The offenders did break into the building and an offense was committed in the building.

“Properties were recovered in Mutendere from accused number four(Mwape). The now accused is the one who broke into the building together with accused one who accepted the charge,” he ruled.

He said Mwape in his defense denied stealing the items but evidence from pw4 a witness in the matter said he met him on the bus and sold the things to him which were recovered.

“The accused was in company with accused number one, who lately admitted the charge. Am satisfied that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt, I found him guilty and convicted accordingly,” he said.

In mitigation, Mwape begged the court for leniency stating that he would never repeat what he did.

“I’m asking for forgiveness and the people I offended, I have leant my lesson the prison is a bad place and food is not nice. I will never get anything which is not mine,” he said.

However, the court sentenced him to six years imprisonment with hard labour to deter would be offenders.

“Heard the convict in mitigation, he is a first offender, but for the person to enter a building which is not his and stealing he must know the circumstances, this offense attracts a maximum sentence of seven years. I sentence you to six years imprisonment with hard labour,” Kasanda ruled.

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