Kitwe | November 19, 2025 -The Kitwe High Court has convicted and sentenced three police officers for one count of the offence of Aggravated Robbery contrary to section 294(2) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
The case cited as The People vs.Richard Mpengaula and Four Others, was heard before Lady Justice Abbah Patel at the Kitwe High Court.
According to the evidence before court, Richard Mpengaula, Teddy Nyirenda, Kennedy Mwansa, Luka Mtonga and Peter Kamabayenda were jointly charged with one count of the offence of Aggravated Robbery.
Particulars of the offence were that on January 3, 2020, at Kitwe in the Kitwe District of the Copperbelt Province of the Republic of Zambia, the accused persons whilst acting together and whilst armed with a firearm, did steal a copper blister, a chain block and 4 steel pipes altogether valued at K65 040.00.
Richard Mpengaula and Teddy Nyirenda were police officers stationed at Wusakile Police Station, while Kennedy Mwansa was a police officer under Kamfinsa Mobile Unit in Kitwe.
The matter was prosecuted by State Advocates based at NPA kitwe office.
In delivering judgment, Lady Justice Patel, who is currently a judge in the Court of Appeal, but sitting as High Court Judge at the Kitwe High Court, found the accused persons namely, Richard Mpengaula, Teddy Nyirenda and Kennedy Mwansa guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment while Luka Mtonga and Peter Kambayenda, were acquitted .
Luka Mtonga was the driver of the motor vehicle that had been hired by the group to carry the stolen items from the scene of crime, whilst Peter Kambayenda, was the conductor of the same motor vehicle.
In acquitting the two accused persons, Lady Justice Patel indicated that she had found insufficient evidence linking them to the offence.
The judgment, delivered today November 19 2025, sends a clear message that the NPA will vigorously pursue justice against all crimes in ensuring that those who commit crimes face the full consequences of the law regardless of their status in society.