A 36-year-old man of Ndola has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by the Ndola Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of burglary and theft involving stolen household goods, including homemade mayonnaise.
Paul Saliki of Mine Masala Township was convicted for breaking into the house of Gladys Banda, 29, and stealing assorted items valued at about K2,000.
The court heard that in the early hours of November 14 last year, around 04:00, Saliki unlawfully entered Banda’s residence and stole various goods before fleeing the scene.
However, he was apprehended shortly afterwards by police officers on patrol. At the time of his arrest, officers discovered traces of mayonnaise on his body, which became a key piece of evidence in the case.
In his defence, Saliki denied committing the offence, telling the court that he had been on his way to collect fertiliser when he was arrested.
But in delivering judgment, magistrate Brian Simachela said that although there was no direct evidence linking the accused to the crime, the circumstantial evidence presented was sufficient to secure a conviction.
“Traces of mayonnaise found on the accused person’s body and the fact that he was found eating it only point to the fact that he committed the offence,” the magistrate ruled.
Saliki was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison.
