The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a former Food and Beverages supervisor at Water Falls Hotel to two years imprisonment for stealing a Samsung LG plasma worth K3,900, property of her former employers.

In this matter, Violet Moono, 25, of Lusaka’s Kaunda Square was charged with theft by servant.

Particulars of the offence were that on November 10, 2018, Moono, being employed as a Food and Beverages supervisor at Water Falls hotel, allegedly stole a Samsung LG plasma television worth K3,900, the property of her employers.

When the matter came up for plea before magistrate Nsunge Chanda, Thursday, Moono admitted stealing the TV.

“Yes, I stole it,” Moono said.

Asked why she stole, Moono said that it was because she did not have a television at home.

Facts in this matter are that; on the material day, a maintenance supervisor at Water Falls Hotel received a report of a missing 32 inch Samsung plasma television from room six.

The matter was then reported to the hotel’s security department which later instituted investigations into the matter.

It was then discovered that the missing television was at Moono’s house and it was recovered.

“Officials from the security department called all the workers and interviewed them over the missing television. Moono and the rest of the workers expressed ignorance about the missing television. The matter was reported to Chelstone Police Station where investigations linked Moono to the missing television. An employee at Water Falls Hotel informed the police that the missing television was at Moono’s place. The television was recovered from Moono’s house,” read the facts.

In mitigation, Moono asked for forgiveness saying she kept her mother and was paying school fees for her young sister.

“I would like to apologise for the inconvenience I caused. I keep my mum and pay school fees for my younger sister,” she said.

However, magistrate Chanda said theft by servant was a very serious offence which could not go unpunished.

She added that she was sure that the theft had been going on for a long time.

“Stealing from your employers is a very serious offence because your company entrusts you with their property. I’m sure this has been going on for a long time,” she said.

Magistrate Chanda said she had to punish Moono to deter would be offenders.

She therefore sentenced her to two years imprisonment.

After the sentence was passed, Moono was seen crying.