Choma Pupil Admits Stealing K20,000

A GRADE nine pupil of Choma’s St Patrick’s Primary School has told the Magistrate’s Court that he was compelled to steal K20,000 cash from a vehicle outside Spar Choma outlet because he desperately needed some money to pay for his school fees.
This is in a matter in which the 17-year-old boy is charged with theft from a motor vehicle.
The boy on December 12 last year in Choma, jointly and while acting together with five other juveniles, stole K20,000 cash from Patrick Mpokoso’s Toyota Hilux.
When the matter came up for written facts before magistrate Mbololwa Mukela on Tuesday, the boy submitted in mitigation that he only stole the money because his ailing father cannot afford to fend for him.
“I am a pupil, I stole the money because I wanted to use it for school…my father does not walk, he has a problem with his feet,” the boy said.
Facts are that on the material day around 10:00 hours, Mr Mpokoso parked his Toyota Hilux outside Spar and entered the supermarket to buy some groceries.
The court heard that Mr Mpokoso found the door to his vehicle open when he came out of the supermarket and a bag containing K20,000 cash was missing.
Mr Mpokoso reported the matter to Choma Central Police Station and the boy was apprehended after investigations.
The boy admitted stealing the money from Mr Mpokoso’s vehicle after being interrogated.
The boy was charged and arrested for the subject offence and the money was never recovered.