The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 26-year-old carpenter of Lusaka’s Marapodi Compound to five years imprisonment for robbery.

In this matter, Zodeki Chiseki was alleged to have stolen K1,200 cash, and a Techno phone valued at K400 from a resident, using violence.

Chiseki was initially charged with two counts of breaking into a building and committing a felony, as well as robbery, but the first count was later on withdrawn by the State after a plea of not guilty.

In count one, it was alleged that Chiseki, on October 27, 2018, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other person’s unknown, did break and enter the shop of Lister Kapenda Mapula and stole an HP computer desktop, three men’s’ suits, an adapter and two motor vehicle spanners, altogether valued at K12,639.

In the second count, it was alleged that on October 28, 2018, Lusaka, Chiseki did steal K1,200 and a Techno phone valued at K400, altogether valued at K1,600, from Martin Chisanga and immediately after stealing, did use or threaten to use actual violence to the said Martin in order to overcome resistance to it been stolen.

And when the matter came up before Magistrate Felix Kaoma for plea, Monday, Chiseki said he understood the charges.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the first count and admitted the second count.

Chiseki said he used violence when getting the said items.

In mitigation, he asked for leniency from the court, saying he would not repeat the offence.

“I’m asking for leniency. I will not repeat what I did. I have learnt my lesson in prison,” Chiseki pleaded.

In his ruling, Magistrate Kaoma said he had considered the mitigation and noted that the convict was a first offender.

He said the convict had pleaded guilty and thus deserved leniency.

Magistrate Kaoma, however, sentenced him to five years to deter other would-be offenders.

After the sentence was passed, the State made an application to have count one withdrawn under section 88 A of the CPC, which was granted.