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Man jailed for 12 months for stealing energizer batteries in Shoprite

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Mongu Subordinate Court yesterday sentenced a 22 year old man to 12 months imprisonment with hard labor after he pleaded guilty to one count of theft contrary to section 272 cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Appearing before Magistrate Humphrey Chitalu was Muyunda Siyanga of Mbikusita Compound in Mongu. Particulars of the offence are that on 21st January 2009 around 09 hours at Shoprite checkers Mongu, Siyanga was spotted by Derrick Nyambu, hiding two packets of energizer batteries valued at K47000 under his pants.

He was later apprehended and taken to police station after he paid for a loaf of bread he picked from the bakery. In mitigation, Siyanga asked the court to have leniency on him saying he was a school going pupil.

ENDS/BPM/PK/ZANIS/MONGU

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

178 COMMENTS

  5. Morning, Martworld, Tionge, Sharp shooter and the rest.

    Bo Muyunda what made you to steal batteries. 12 months munjema sure when pipo who steal billions are jailed for 2 years. Kuti wapapa mayo. What a Life.

  7. This is were our justice system sucks and is so colonial. Look at it this way: This young man steals batteries worth 44 pin and gets 12 months with hard labour. Then Former ZANACO boss commits 44 counts of corruption and abuse of office worth billions and he gets 24 months with hard labour. Is this surely fair justice.

    We still use the outdated British laws which were racist and meant to dish out heavy punishments to local natives who could only commit petty crimes.

    Community service would have been appropriate for this man. He does not need to go to jail and be polluted. De-congest the prisons for hardcore criminals like Bulaya, Musonda, Chungus , FTJ, Katele and maybe the ZA Nchitos

  10. is this what you call steal big and save a lighter sentence or steal small and have a hard sentence?
    Both is bad,so no stealing.Period

  12. #10 yes I think that is old school justice..as a society we need to change and move on and do what is sensible. If I were the judge, I would have sentenced this man to hard labour in the community where he earns the 44 000 and interest and pays it back to shoprite so he learns that if you want something you have to work for it. That would be more correctional than send him to jail with all those hardcore criminals who will teach him how to even commit bigger crimes for 12 months. We need to repeal our laws really

  13. too much for the young sch boy,these are petty issues.yu shud have just canned the boy or something like that.4 batteries yu slamp 1yr on him when pipo found with cases involving billions you give them 2yrs(eg musonda,sakala,funjika etc),anyway justice is justice for the poor,God will equally judge us all.

  16. We are not cond0ning theft but the prisons are already congested!! What happened to the Mayor of Kabwe who st0le from Shoprite that other year? Double standards indeed pa Zed!!!

  21. This man will stop school coz of K 47 000,whats the rational for sending him to jail.This man might even become a hard core criminal coz of the people he will mix with.community work would have been the best option and a fine.

  23. Too bad for the young man,especialy considering that some people who steal alot go scot free for years.
    Mo taim,Luapula Fish, mrning guys :-h:-h

  24. :d/Morning all!

    Yaba! Njala iyi. People are now stealing batteries. Poor Muyunda. Anyway, at least he will have in prison what he couldn’t have on the outside…….A meal!!

  30. Cutey, Rashid, man kunde

    Morning! At least azadyako ka nsima mu prison, Ka? Things are so bad that patients in hospitals are now refusing to be discharged for fear of starving. There is free food mu hospital. Vavuta vintu!!

  31. Morning and gday to you #24,25,30..

    Iyi njala yabvuta..

    Manje ma batili chabe ndiye yomangiliwilapo sure???

    Namvela chifundo kwambili. 8->8->8->8->8->8->

  32. Goodmorning Man Kunde and Ba Moze.
    Whats for friday you guys? this young is very unfortunate but anyway as you have said Ba Moze, he will enjoy in prison because everything is free.

  35. If it was Northern Provice you could say ati bembas.Now southern Guys what are your comments about your brother.Thieves are every where.12 months with Hard Labor that is Ok. You reap what you sow.

    Wikabwekeshapo Pasopo [-x

  36. #33 Mossad-Kgb

    Hi! Yakakana mudala pa zed. Released from prison, a man immediately assaults the prison warder just to get himself locked up again. Njala!

  37. This is indeed injustice. The magistrate is abusing his authority as the crime does not fit the punishment. The man just deserves to be caned and let go or given community service.

  39. Something wrong with our judicial system. Or is it with our Magistrates who are very rigid with the poor and yet so flexible with the rich. Theft of all sorts is undesirable but that young man should have easily been punished by community service. Am beginning to question the judgmental tact of our judicial officers. Last year a magistrate ordered a baby to be locked up. Another one IN KALULUSHI had his friend locked up for a disagreement they had in a bar. Ba Kunda naba Sakala Chiteni po fimo.Twachula pafula na system yenu.

  40. Batteries namwebo?……….Wonder how long the dudes in court who stloe millions will get as jil sentences if one who is cugt stealing batteries cud be sentenced for such a lenghtly sentence

  42. Baby C!! :)>- Hi!!

    Am ok. And yes i was in Mazabuka again. Actually, it will be every tuesday to thursday for the next three months. have some programmes there. Nkhani yama batterries waiwona?

  43. The magistrate wasnt fair!!I think the sentence is too harsh! he should have been given a good beating ku ma buttocks!!

  45. #41,Gday Baby C,
    Iam good panono. Its boiling 43deg. here. burning on earth..Air cons broken down..as too much demand. Beaches are packed up.. no space…

    Will just sit in car with full blast Air con on..
    I still love my Island home to bits.
    Studies going good??
    keep up gal, you rock…never forget that and keep your head above waters..always.#:-so-+

  50. #38,#44,
    I thought its every Thursdays that Mazabuka trips are on???

    Just being nosey here..Idunno whats going on..(mean do not know) :-?:-?

  52. Morning Baby C.
    Ba moze, i want your comment on the issue of FTJ since you had no chance to comment.
    Ati afuna balance yake $8.5 million imagine.

  53. Baby C & Cutey

    Yashani iyo?? Its just work guys. You would be the first to know if there was….you know….fimo fimo!!

  55. Poverty! whats the connection between the judge and shoprite. I see vested interest. The message is DONT STEAL FROM SHOPRITE!

  56. Evelyn King
    Mine is good,and yours?

    Rashid & Man Kunde
    How is your morning.

    Baby C
    How are you?

    Ba Moze
    You should learn to say bye to your friends.You see Na Zoe amikopela manje,otherwise how are you?

    Mwe lupwa lonse Pa LT mulishani?

    Matworld

    LT Award winner For :-j:-j:-j:-j

  59. Rashid Jones

    Dont take ba Moze to that topic please! Pali pride na tribalism.

    Matworld

    LT award winner for :-j:-j:-j

  60. Iwe Muyunda why ayi?Batteries sure ngafyacibako ifykulya not ama batteries.Anyway you deserve the punishment.

    Matworld

    LT award winner for :-j:-j:-j

  63. Goodmorning Rashid Jones, Matworld, Baby C, Cutey, Ba Moze, Mossad Kgb, Ras Rated, Luapula Fish, Mankunde & all the others, I hope you’re all fine.

    12 months for petty theft? Where is Amnesty International???

  64. Too much panishment for the young boy and does not deserve it .
    basiya banaba more money and move free and the at last you call zambia a christian nation .sorry sorry

  65. rashid

    Techakwesha kumupasa ndalama FTJ! Yachani?? Nanga zamene anaba? Atisettin’ga manje, te?

    Matworld

    I said bye. You were not there. ulibwanji pela?

  67. Nine Chale

    Hi. Mwana, stealing is stealing naiwe! Imagine if those were your batteries ok, how would you feel? Chibaba, ka?

  69. Imagine someone steals billions, he gets a jail sentence of 2yrs. Then its better someone steals a Billion, after all even if you work for 25 years you will never get pension closer to a billion. Next time I come across a K1Bn, I will steal it and after a jail sentence of 2years, I’ll come out and live a comfortable life. That’s the signal our judiciary is sending out there!

  70. Excessive. Lacks proportionality.Cost of keeping prisoner in jail for 12 months Vs cost of energizer batteries.Options available: Non custodial remedy including:Fine, suspended sentence,Community servive, reprimand.
    Effect of sentence:
    Drop out from school; learning criminal behaviour in jail; stigma of imprisonment; Potential to re-offend increased.
    REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM!

  71. Geeeeeez,Jeeeeezez,
    Its now 45 deg.celcius…
    reported spontaneos bush fires… public transp. to a hault/cancelled in the city..

    Believably/repotedly, this happened 50 yers ago. and now…

    ‘Just some global news’.. #:-s#:-s#:-s#:-s#:-s#:-s#:-s#:-s

  73. Morning Matworld, Nine Chale and Mossad-kgb
    Baby C, I dont believe in separation but Divorce.
    Imagine back to ubushimbe like Chewe but kawilo sinimakwanisa so you know what that means
    o-+o-+

  74. #54,
    ~:>nina mupasa long rope to hang and my ears are%-(my eyes|-)|-)and Iam just:-??:-??:-??:-??:-??:-??pa L.T. minding my own business and those who care.>:d< Actually ninamuuza ati ayende ku deep end...Uziba ku side ya pool..<:-p<:-p=))=)) Anyanya Vima jelous maningi...:-@:-@>:)

  76. #72, I think twalapusuka..
    I hear it happened 50 years ago as well..
    so naifwe twalapusuka…
    why not??

    self assurance here… [-([-([-(#:-s#:-s#:-s#:-s

  77. Nine Chale

    Okay this is too much mwandini.But this muyunda also ama batteries sure why not food kanshi?Be Like FTJ ukwibila apakulu.

    Matworld

    Lt Award winner for :-j:-j:-j

  79. The shud give him a suspended sentence let the boy finish school at least he has seen that crime does not pay, i feel sorry for the guy and Kuomboka is soon, i wish they cud speed up plunderes cases as well not a one sided thing

  82. These courts someone steals on 21/1/09 and he he jailed on 29/1/09, Why not imprison big theives who steal countries instead of cells?

  83. These Two tribes says Bembas are thieves,they are somehow right but Iam surprised lelo nibena kwashala bambi nimipingila bane.Sure ma batteries FTJ and other Bembas balibileko apakulu.Anyway sin is sin whether ma batteries or Zamtroop funds you have all committed unforgiven crime.

    Matworld

    LT award winner for :-j:-j:-j

  85. discipline should not always be punitive but also corrective, now imagine what other habits this fellow is going to pick up from the “ndende”.sending him to prison over an item less than 50pin is not reforming him at all.

  86. As I agree that stealing is bad and evil very un fair judgement for energizer batteries only the prison is only for poor people look at the plunderers they walk freely for making our mother zambia poor justice very difficult to understand.Muchangu walikuyanda kubika tubatili mu kalimba. :o:o:o:o

  95. Cellphone Phiri

    Mulibwanji uko? Iam drinking a drink with a hose pipe.
    Mbuya wanga please its not a hose pipe as you call it its a straw.
    :-j:-j:-j:-j

    Matworld

    LT award winner for:-j:-j:-j

  101. Ba Moze

    Good to see you around.Now put ka topic while we are still waiting for LT to give us a romantic,admirable,Hot,peaceful news.

  102. #83.Don’t start that tribal crap.Chiluba and his cronies bled our coffers silly with thieving and corruption being condoned and celebrated.Now if that suggests anything tribe …take your pick. :-c>:/>:)[-x8-}

  103. I will never understand!!!

    Is jail the only instrument?

    These magistrates are out of there minds!! Normally if this is his first offense then surely 12 Months is not what you get!! Also considering that this guy is a pupil!!

    Are the batteries he store the long-life ones? Still Nothing justifies the 12 Months.

    :o:o:o:o:o

  105. The punishment is too stiff! Maybe he didnt even have
    Legal representation, this is what happens the real criminals go
    scot free and the innocent ones end up in jail.

  107. Blame the govt, they are the ones failing to provide jobs, thats why some pipo resort to helpin themselves,stealing.
    Who wouldnt, if Njala yachaya mu mala.

  113. Pumpy ,Morning dear

    Jamaco, Sony Mbeba and 3RqU

    Never use :o):o):o)without my permission! Osa nipoka award yanga! This year naikosa! Bonse tufwile twawina

  114. 107. KA PRINCES

    Good morning mi fren!!

    He paid for the Loaf of Bread and kept the Batteries in his Pants!!:d

    Bwamba na Njala sure? :o:o:o:o:o

  117. #103 Hi Jamaco, Sony Ericsson Phiri and the rest.

    I think you are right, they are the long life ones .

    The judge said: you are goin down my boy cos you stale the battries
    With the highest capacity available, Duracell® Base Rechargeables offer dependable performance at a great value.

  119. Sometimes people steal because of prevailing hunger situations in our developing countries. The Judge should have exercised lineancy and reduced the punishment.

    This is where life is not fare. Big boys steal Billions and walk scot free while the poor are sent to jail over small things.

  123. Jamaco,
    the boy used his brains to keep the batteries mu bamba, not the bread cos inganunke bad.

    This shows that he is using his brains, doing the right thing.
    Free Muyunda, cos i know his sister.
    Joking

  125. Matworld nice to have you back. Baby C Good morning. Jamako mwashibukeni. Nine Chale atishani kaili.
    Sony Ericsson ati bwa?

    Rashid shani man ulekosa? Ba Maureen where is Chewe?:d Cutey shani?

    Matworld what happened yesterday? My advice is some people are better left alone.:-j:-j:-j

  127. Awee Naimwe!! 😮

    Alitumpa Muyunda. At least if they caught him stealing……lets say nangu Cheese! not batteries. Kuti walya ama batteries?? At cheese, pop corn, groundnuts, polony…ifya pala efyo. These are things he can at least squeeze in his shorts and press them against his fimo fimo (nomba ukununka, yangu tata!), and walk out. Batteries gave him away pantu takwaba uwakwata ama ntwane that big!!:-?

  128. oops! out of topic…quote from the post … “We have people from North-Western Province in NEC. Surely Dr Sondashi should have gotten a vote from his relatives but his people too rejected him. So he shouldn’t expect people that are not his relatives to trust him when his own betrayed him.” that was by Namulambe

  131. 3RqU

    Mudala wandi the Bible said when you see your friend sinning warm him/her for you will be held accountable for his blood when he dies in sin.

    Otherwise how are you?

    Matworld

    LT award winner for :-j:-j:-j

  139. Give that boy community service and a slap on the hand, let him take the battries and give him a refund for the loaf of bread. Ask him to be appearing ever Monday with home work done and ready to the probation officer.

    What a magistrate!

  140. LT is not meant for YOU guys who waste space by posting useless comments, passing greetings etc.This is meant to comment on the current topic and give constructive advises, comments that will help other people who have the privelege to read it. Iam feed up with these USELESS comments, etc

  141. Matworld
    Iam very sure, he was just fortunate that the batteries had no leakage otherwise, it could have been kafwafwa.

    GOODAY TO YOU AND PREPARE A VISA TO VISIT MY HOME IN ANGOLA

  142. #138 Chits
    Are you going to pay by cash, I dont take cheque or card.

    #136

    Do you do that sometimes, maybe he has a vibrator

  147. Its very amazing with the judicial system pazed. Somebody who steals billions of national resources only goes in jail for 2 years and two days later he is released on bail.Gentelemen like musonda, sakala and others should have their years increased from 2 years to 22 years if this is what a person who steals batteries deserves.

  149. wheels of justice grind very slow for the rich like FTJ$-) but for the poor8-x its fastelele baba. Gone for lunch. will be back. LT dont post any thread in the next 1 hour. gone to Matebeto market in Thorn Park for TBone. luk out for the black Volvo by Bana Mapalo. Respect!! C ya

  150. Judge ni chipuba. Enzo lwisha promotion kapena!!! Although chimo ni chimo, 12 months for energizer batteries only reveals the daftness of the judge. Her should never be promoted. He was obviously doing it to appease Shoprite managers. Galu ya muntu. He has spoilt a young chap’ life just like that. May Satan bless the judge!!!

  153. strange indeed, and we call ourselves educated and partial and christian at the same time. What standards are in the judicial system that are so opposite in metting judgement? battries are not equivalent to 12 month ==

  154. from 2001 to date, chiluba has not even on a single day smelt how chimbokaila is. ok sakala was convicted and his crimes were worth more than a billion kwacha but he went in only for a paultry 2 years and actually it was even less. here is a boy who perhaps wanted the batteries for his radio to listen when it is 7 oclock for him to prepare to go to skulu but judge, judge,judge, how many times did i call you? 3 times and you sit and cheat that you are the judge. you will rot in hell

  155. Our Criminal Justice system is to say the list, pathetic, archaic and needs to be totally overhauled. While not condoning stealing, I find the rationale behind this sentencing embarrasing.

    The poor are having it rough while real criminals are hanging out loose in the streets. What happens to the future of this young man (ofcourse assuming he was serious at 22 to be school going)? He is likely to be a hard core criminal by the time those chaps in prison are finnished with him.

    What has happenned to the non custodial sentences Shikapwasha has been talking about? I am sure the human rights commission should step in and ensure fair justice is done in this matter.

  156. PAPA J…POINT

    This is such a shame, hes a school boy for crying out loud….is honestly going to jail going to do any good for him.
    How about community service?? Is this Magistrate daft or what..
    What will the boy become after jail? what is K47 000 for shoprite, atleast they could have said he should clean the shops for 1 week.

    I feel sorry for yet another future that been destroyed by desparacy!

  158. That magistrate must have drunken too much Kachasu. That boy you sent to prison will come out either a hard core criminal or a malnourished sick guy with scabies all over his body probably with a gaping asshole due sodomy in jail. Retrain that bustard you call a magistrate. I wonder if these criminals have Continuous Professional development in their careers. How many bribes have you taken during your career? Not being caught does not make you an angel. You are 100,000% worse than Bo muyunda. Bo Muyunda keep yo head up, reform and make friends with Jesus. Better days are coming as long as you keep the faith in him

  159. Izavuta! I cannot wait for F.T.J and his sweet rib Regina, going to separate cells. HahahAHAHAHAHA! Kulibe milomo. :d

  160. The batteries (maybe) were mearnt for an electricity experiment and the school could not provide the batteries. The Mbikusika’s this poor pupil is from your compound. Its not worth it to have computers in your homes when the schools have no batteries.

    The Courts even read out the sections to the poor fellow. What of the short guy here in Lusaka. He claims he had never met Aaron Chungu before, look at those two noses and the cunning laugh they give after every court session. Meanwhile in the court the short guys weeps as if he is innocent and the paid cadres around him (including R vegina) pretend to show solidality with him. The system stinks.

  163. Aimple thief is given a speedy trial without delays. Chiluba & his tandem of thieves are still wasting our time & might not even go in given the recent events where he is performing drama in the courts. Please, the judiciary stop wasting time & sentence the ‘father’ of all thieves, Kafupi the long finger president!

  165. I dont condone any theft of any kind, but please you would expect those that interpret our laws to look at both minimal and maximum sentences. Let the sentence fit the crime, in a country where our infrastructure service is so poor people like this could carry out community services such as clearing rubbish,biulding roads anything that contributes to society. Why do we punish the weakest so harshly?
    and we are a christian nation. I must believe in a different God, but I will keep believing in a God that is forgiving, ungreed, caring and cares for the weakest in society. This sentence is diabolical to say the least but it is not strange with those who hold power in the country of our birth.

  166. This is not the end but the begining. let him learn a lesson so that he wont repeat the same mistake after his period.

  167. Yes teach him a lesson so that other people can learn from him.
    so that him self can be a witness to those who are still in the same category.

    wishing yoy good and safe journey to prison my friend. remember to greet all of them whom you will find.

    good bye don’t go and forget the map where you came from, wishing you good luck

  168. i do not condone stealin but come on guys 12mths with hard labour????is he a repeat offender?47000 kwena? also r the dates correct, he got caught stealin on the 21st todays the 30th and hes already been jailed. things move fast pa zed ayee (unless of course u r mr bigshot, then it might take years to be prosecuted

  169. Think of it in this way: if guys like these are left to steal from Shoprite, the shop can collapse in a very short time since the profit margin on their goods is very low. They rather depend on the turn over on their sale.
    I only pity the boy because he is school going. May some NGOs can advocate for his release. Otherwise the sentence is just right. These are some of the boys stealing even from our vehicles.

  170. Samuel Musonda, Gen Singogo et al, can pay K50millio and still enjoy life outside even after stilling even more metres, lol

  171. 12months is too much.
    why?we don’t encourage steeling but govt should be seriours
    Infact he’s not supporse to be in jail.They should have just punished him.maybeto be in prison for 1 week

  172. Chiluba is the second Richest and powerful man in zambia after KK,where did they get all the money?type in to see. **==~X(

  173. Lessons to draw from this energizer batteries sentence is that wen u steal pa zed ensure u steal enaf coz that poor boy might just serve the same if not a longer sentence than FTJ. Awe sure!

  175. Ki makeke. shame wht 12 months? why not suspended sentence? does the Judgw have a lions share in Shopriste, were they the judges batteries? **==**==

  176. ine i think this is absolutely crazy in some sense. the ought to be punished but 1 yr with hard labour? come!

  177. shit, i steal energizer batteries all the time from family dollor or dollar general! My goal is to collect 1000000 batteries by the end of this year!

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