On Wednesday, 18th May, 2022, the court heard through police Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Ezekiel Kalunga, that the woman, Lucia James, disappeared with her friend’s baby on 9th May 2022.

Prosecutor Kalunga told the court that James and the mother of the baby were once neighbors and, on this day, she visited after she was told that her friend who now resides at Mangochi Boma has a new born baby.

“But at the house she found her friend occupied with house chores while carrying the baby at her back. and asked her to babysit the child,” according to Kalunga.

“Taking advantage of the situation, that the mother was still busy she vanished with the baby and was arrested a few days later at her home village in Makanjira where she fled with the child,” added the prosecutor.

In mitigation, Lucia who pleaded guilty asked the court to forgive her for committing the crime.

However, Prosecutor Kalunga explained that the convict organized the crime and put the life of the little one at risk by feeding him milk which is not medically recommended.

He also told the court that the child’s mother was traumatized for days hence asked for a stiffer sentence.

Passing the judgement, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state hence the 5-year sentence to serve as a lesson to other would-be offenders.

Lucia James hails from Chilanga Village, Traditional Authority Makanjira in the same lakeshore district.