Ndola Court Convicts Beer Thief

The Ndola Magistrate’s Court has imposed a nine-month jail sentence with hard labour on a man of Ndola’s Chipulukusu for breaking into a bar, stealing beer and assorted goods worth over K1,500.
Magistrate Changa Chitabo on Wednesday convicted Gregory Goma, 22, of house number 0784 after he pleaded guilty to breaking into a building and committing a felony.
“I find you guilty as charged and I accordingly convict you. I, hereby, sentence you to nine months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from the date of your arrest,” Mr Chitabo said.
Goma on December 26 last year in Ndola, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown broke into Fridah Banda’s bar and stole three carton boxes of brandy, three crates of Castle lager,10 carton boxes of cigarettes, four mobile phones and K40 cash.
In mitigation, Goma pleaded with the court to be lenient on him because he is the breadwinner of the family.
Facts before the court are that on the material day, Ms Banda knocked off after securing her bar, but when she returned to her business the following morning, she discovered that someone had broken into the premises through the roof and some property was missing.
Ms Banda reported the matter to Chipulukusu police post and Goma was arrested after investigations.
He admitted breaking into Ms Banda’s bar.