THE Ndola Magistrate Court has sentenced a 29 year old student who stole a three day old baby at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) to six years imprisonment.
Sofi Kabia at student at Nkana College of Education was convicted for child stealing.
On December 8, 2022 Kabia stole the baby from Susan Kayamba ,32, a house wife of Chipulukusu township in Ndola.
It is alleged that on the fateful day Kabia visited Ms Kayamba at the hospital while she was still recovering.
Kabia asked Ms Kayamba if she could help her bath the baby.
In an attempt to help Ms Kayamba, the convict took advantage of the situation and walked away with the baby.
When asked by the police why she took the baby, she said that she had a miscarriage which her husband was not aware of.
She said the miscarriage prompted her to steal Ms Kayamba’s baby.
In mitigation after being found guilty, Kabia asked the court for forgiveness saying she was a student.
“I am asking for forgiveness as I am a student if I am sentenced, my career is going to be ruined,” she said.
Magistrate Brian Simachela said Kabia was entitled to leniency because she was a first offender.
“It is not disputable that the convict stole the child from its mother by pretending that she was helping her to look after the baby. However, to learn a lesson and to deter other would-be offenders, I have exercised my maximum leniency by sentencing you to six-years simple imprisonment,” he said.
Earlier the matter was referred to the High Court however after High Court Judge, Mary Mulanda perused through the case, she said the Magistrate court had the jurisdiction to sentence Kabia.
