A Salima court has sentenced a 29-year-old shopkeeper to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour after he admitted stealing fishing twine nets worth K55 million from his employer.
The Salima First Grade Magistrate’s Court on Friday convicted Never Mizeck of theft by servant after he pleaded guilty to the offence.
According to Salima Police spokesperson Sub Inspector Rebecca Ndiwate, Mizeck abused the trust placed in him while working as a shopkeeper at a fishing twine business in Salima Main Market.
“The Salima First Grade Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced a 29-year-old Never Mizeck to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour for stealing from his employer fishing twine nets valued at K55 million,” Ndiwate said.
According to Ndiwate, court records indicate that the employer became suspicious after noticing that the business was experiencing unexplained losses.
On June 6, 2026, a well-wisher informed the employer that Mizeck was allegedly keeping large quantities of fishing twine at his home and selling them at lower prices through parallel markets, the matter was reported to police, leading to Mizeck’s arrest.
Police investigations, according to Ndiwate, established that the suspect had been stealing fishing twine from his employer and selling it privately.
Officers recovered stolen fishing twine valued at K16.162 million and cash amounting to K2.17 million believed to be proceeds from the illegal sales.
During court proceedings, Mizeck pleaded guilty and asked for leniency, citing family responsibilities.
However, State Prosecutor Inspector Justice Manolo urged the court to impose a custodial sentence, arguing that theft by employees erodes trust between employers and workers.
First Grade Magistrate Amran Phiri agreed with the State’s submissions and sentenced Mizeck to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of property believed to have been acquired using the stolen money.
“The same court has also ordered that the house which Mizeck built and the motor vehicle which he bought using the stolen money be sold and the proceeds of the sale be given back to the employer,” Ndiwate said.
Following the conviction, Ndiwate urged business owners to strengthen oversight of their businesses and carefully vet employees entrusted with valuable goods and cash.
“We are advising business operators and shop owners to always make sure that they have proper follow-up on the people they employ and the people they trust to handle large amounts of money, to avoid incidents of a similar kind,” she said.
Mizeck hails from Magombo Village under Traditional Authority Salima in Salima District.
