A 17-year-old boy of Lusaka’s Chilenje South area has admitted stealing a 55 inch Plasma TV valued at K21,000 from his neighbour’s house.

And Lusaka Magistrate Nsunge Chanda has granted the Juvenile bail of K5,000 in own recognizance with two working sureties.

Magistrate Nsunge advised him to reflect on his life, saying it is not good for children to be appearing in court.

In this matter, the Juvenile is charged with one count of house breaking and theft.

It alleged that on January 15, this year, the Juvenile broke and entered into a dwelling house of Alexander Mwale and stole a Plasma TV valued at K21,000, property of Mwale.

And when the matter came up for plea before Magistrate Chanda, Wednesday, the Juvenile admitted to the charge.

“Yes, I entered and I stole [the TV],” he said.

The Juvenile said after stealing, he took the TV to town where he sold it at K5,000.

At this point, Magistrate Chanda informed the Juvenile that he would go to prison so that he could stopped stealing.

“You were at the police station, now you will go to prison so that when you just see a TV, you even see prison then you won’t be able to steal. Since that’s what you want. Because when you go there, immediately you see somebody’s property what will be coming to your mind is prison,” Magistrate Chanda warned.

And when the Court set January 29 as date for facts, the Juvenile’s father applied for bail, lamenting the boy had been in custody since Tuesday.

But before Magistrate Chanda could grant him bail, she urged the juvenile to reflect on his life.

“Tuesday only, I thought you would say December. And this offence is five years. Imagine staying five years in prison. You should think about it. When I give you bail, I’m giving you time to think; whether you have already graduated to become a criminal, or you want to study. It’s not good for children to be coming to court. So, when I grant you bail, you should behave,” she cautioned.

Magistrate Chanda then granted the juvenile bail of K5,000 in own recognizance with two working sureties in the like sum, with the same conditions.

She adjourned the matter to January 29 for facts and sentencing.