A 42-year-old general worker has pleaded guilty in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court to stealing a mattress worth K600 for his personal use.

This is the matter in which Chrispine Chembo of Chiyaba village in Nampundwe, is facing one count of burglary and theft contrary to Section 301(a) and 272 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence allege that during the night of February 12 and 13, 2019, in Lusaka, Chembo broke into Lister Kausu’s house and stole a mattress valued at K600.

And when the matter came up for plea before magistrate Victoria Chitulangoma, Wednesday, Chembo pleaded guilty saying he entered the said house around 20:00 hours by forcing the door open.

He added that he managed to break the lock to the house because it wasn’t strong enough.

Chembo said when he entered the house, he only stole the mattress which was on the bed and left.

“Yes I entered the complainant’s house around 20:00 hours. I opened the door because the kind of lock which was there is not strong. When I entered the house, I just got the mattress which was on the bed and left,” he said.

Chembo disclosed that after getting the mattress, he took it to his house.

Asked why he stole, he said he wanted to be using it.

The court adjourned the matter to today for facts and possible sentencing.