Bicycle thief appeals jail time A man convicted of the theft of a bicycle, and now only within three months of the three years'' imprisonment imposed on default of payment of N$3000 fine, is appealing the sentence. Lourenzo Pieterse, who was a cleaner at the Namibia Defence Force headquarters'' feels the sentence is “inducing a sense of shock” as the presiding Magistrate Alweendo Venatius did not take into account his personal circumstances.
He was convicted on 23 September of the theft of a bicycle and fined N$3000 and in default of payment, was sentenced to three years'' imprisonment which was conditionally suspended for five years.
The convict alleges his personal circumstances are that he is a first offender, the sole breadwinner of his family and he has a two-year-old daughter and his family relying on him. Further to this, they all reside at the government flats and are likely to be evicted if he continues to serve prison time.
The matter was postponed to today for judgement.
FRED GOEIEMAN