Armed Robber (72) to Hang

1 July 2011

THE Kitwe High Court has sentenced to death by hanging a 72-year-old fisherman for aggravated robbery.

High Court judge-in-charge Rhodah Kaoma sentenced to death Friday Mwamba of Chingola after finding him guilty of two counts of aggravated robbery which happened on September 3 last year.

In the first count, Mwamba stole K5, 851,200, a cell phone, a scarf and a hat all valued at K100, 000, while in the second count he stole a cell phone valued at K540, 000.

The accused person who was armed with a firearm when committing the offences blocked the Chingola-Solwezi road with logs and threatened to use violence on the victims.

In passing sentence, Justice Kaoma said Mwamba should be hanged by the neck until pronounced dead by a medical practitioner.

She said the penalty for aggravated robbery was provided by law in section 294(2) of the Penal Code and therefore would accordingly impose that penalty despite the age of the convict.

Justice Kaoma said an elderly person like the convict should not involve themselves in such crime.

The Court was satisfied that the offence was committed by Mwamba and that the weapon used was a lethal barrel from which a shot could be discharged and capable of being fired.

Mwamba did not say anything in mitigation.

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