The Lusaka Magistrate Court has sentenced to 5 years, the 21-year-old maid of Lusaka’s SOS area, for stealing a 6-months old baby, last month.
In this matter, Rachael Banda, earlier pleaded guilty to child stealing.
Particulars of the offence are that on December 14, 2019, Banda, with intent to deprive, fraudulently took possession of Luyando Mwanza, the baby from its mother Brenda Hakanema.
And when she appeared in court earlier, Banda said she stole the child because she does not have her own.
Banda further said she had No intention of harming the baby, but she wanted to keep the infant as her own, even though she had no lawful justification.
During sentencing, Banda asked for forgiveness from the court, saying she would never do it again.
But Magistrate Faides Hamaundu noted that Banda put the baby’s life at risk, by taking it away from its mother for several days.
