A 48-year-old police officer of Matero Township has been convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing K30,000.

Lusaka magistrate Austin Mubita jailed Chela John Sinyangwe to 36 months after finding him guilty of theft by servant.

Particulars of the offence in this matter were that Sinyangwe, between January 1, 2018 and January 31, 2018 in Lusaka, stole K30,000 cash which was entrusted to him by Dickson Chibulu to deliver to Isaac Mushibwe.

He had pleaded not guilty and the matter proceeded to trial.

Delivering his judgment on Tuesday, magistrate Mubita said there was enough evidence from the prosecution indicating that Sinyangwe stole the money.

He said the prosecution had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt and convicted Sinyangwe.

In mitigation, Sinyangwe pleaded for the court’s leniency, saying he was the first offender and bread winner of seven children, three orphans and aged parents.

But in sentencing Sinyangwe, magistrate Mubita said the offence the officer committed was a serious one and attracted a custodial sentence.

He added that Sinyangwe was a civil servant whose integrity people looked up to and was also entrusted to safeguard their interests.

Magistrate Mubita therefore sentenced Sinyangwe to 36 months imprisonment with hard labour to deter would be offenders.

The sentence was effective Tuesday, May 14, 2019.