The magistrate court in Isoka district of Northern Province has convicted a 45-year-old man on charges of escaping from lawful custody.
Appearing before magistrate Fidelis Ngosa on Friday was Joseph Sikaona of Ilomba village in Chinsali district charged with one count of escaping from lawful custody contrary to section 119 Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that Joseph Sikaona on January 16 this year did escape from lawful custody at Isoka police station while facing charges of stock theft. Sikaona admitted the charge and pleaded guilty.
In passing judgment, magistrate Ngosa said he had taken into consideration the mitigation of Sikaona and that he was a first offender entitled to leniency but that the offence committed was serious.
He added that upon his own admission of guilty, the court had convicted him and given a custodial sentence so as to deter other would-be offenders.
Magistrate Ngosa said he was sending Sikaona to jail for 18 months with hard labour.
In mitigation, Sikaona said he escaped from lawful custody because he was starving adding that the cell where he was held was also leaking causing him to get soaked every time it rained.
He added that he was a family man with two wives and several children and was also looking after a number of orphans at his home who would all suffer if he was given a custodial sentence.
ZANIS
Leave him he exploited the security. DO something about the security if anything let me go, he has shown how smart he is
Prison Break ya pa Zed! But seriously, the fact that he is incarcerated does not mean his Human rights should be violated by having him stay in an inhumane conditions. The state has the duty to ensure the prison conditions are habitable for humans… Most prisons are in such in such a deplorable state! I don’t blame the old man… mwilaiba bane!
#2 Very funny comment, Prison Break ya pa Zed!!!