THE Kitwe Magistrate court has sentenced two men to seven years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a motor vehicle worth K20,000.

Daniel Mwale, 30, of Luangwa Township and Komani Kaunda of Mulenga Township were charged with theft of motor vehicle contrary to the laws of Zambia

It is alleged that the accused, on November 15, 2020 stole one motor vehicle namely a Toyota Corolla VVTI registration number 92 valued at K20,000, the property of Silwamba Modson.

Appearing before Resident Magistrate Malota Phiri for plea, the accused person’s pleaded guilty to the offense.

And facts before court were that the accused persons stole the vehicle in Modson’s yard.

At 21:40 hours, however, the accused persons had a breakdown and they went to a nearby house and requested if they could park their vehicle there overnight.

The accused persons were allowed to park it there but it when the Complainant woke up at 01:00 hours, he noticed through the window that his car was missing and at 02:00 hours he reported the matter to the Police.

And magistrate Phiri said upon the facts being true and correct and the accused pleading guilty to the offense, he had found them guilty as charged and convicted them.

In mitigation Mwale begged for the court to exercise maximum leniency as he was a family man who was sponsoring his wife’s education.

And Kaunda begged the court to exercise leniency on him saying he had learnt a lesson and that he was remorseful.

Magistrate Phiri said the accused persons had shown no signs of remorse and transformation whilst in prison.

He said Mwale who had been engaging himself in fights and had been convicted for battering one of the inmates.

Magistrate Phiri said it was evident that the two were criminals who needed more time to change and reflect on their wrong doings.

Magistrate Phiri said he was sentencing the two to seven years imprisonment with hard labour and that if the two were not happy with the sentence, they had a right appeal within 14 days.