Cattle theft sends Mpanda trader to seven years in jail

Mpanda District Magistrate’s Court in Katavi Region has condemned a Kawajense Street resident in Mpanda municipality, Athuman Issa, to seven years in jail after convicting him of cow theft.

The convict reportedly stole and slaughtered the cow before he sold its beef at his meat shop. Similarly, the court ordered the convict to refund 550,000/- to owner of the stolen cow, Mr Said Abdullah, after serving the jail sentence.

The trial magistrate, Mr Odilo Amwol, said the prosecution led by State Attorney Michael Peter had proved the case beyond reasonable doubts that the convict really committed the offence.

Earlier, Mr Peter claimed before the court that the convict committed the crime on November 26, last year, at Shankala Village in Mpanda District.

It was further alleged that on that material night, the accused stole the cow, slaughtered it and sold its beef in his meat shop in Mpanda municipality.

On mitigation, the convict prayed for lenience, saying it was his first offence and has children whose mother is dead as well as aging parents who depend on him.