By Nuusita Ashipala
OSHAKATI – A 25-year-old woman landed on the wrong side of the law for allegedly shoplifting 12 pairs of shoes valued at N$1 020 from Mr Price clothing retail shop at the Yetu Complex in Oshakati.
The alleged theft occurred on Tuesday, according to court papers.
Monika Jonas pleaded guilty to the charge of theft when she appeared before Magistrate Mutafela Likando in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Prosecutor Petrina Hango represented the state.
Jonas was fined N$1 000 or alternatively three months imprisonment.
Before she was sentenced, Jonas pleaded with the court for a lenient sentence as she was a mother of three children, aged eight, seven and one. She also indicated that she is unemployed and survives on an average income of N$500, which she gets from selling kapana.
She further informed the court that she is currently pregnant and is on medication for a killer disease.
In addition, she told the court that she supports her first two children without the support of their fathers.
“The father of my first two children does not support me, it is only the father of my last born who assists me to take care of the three children,” said Jonas.
Hango indicated that besides being a first offender, her case is serious and prevalent in the Oshakati area. The prosecutor added that the purpose of punishment is to deter her from committing such offences hence the punishment must fit the crime, offender, and be fair to society.
The magistrate, before delivering the judgment said that stealing 12 pairs of shoes is greed and a bad example to the children. She emphasized that there are legal ways to gain money and it is a loss to the business community to lose out on money due to dishonesty.