Mbabane – A 23-year-old man was arrested for picking up a patient’s phone at the Mbabane Government Hospital.

Owethu Mhlongo of Mangwaneni had gone for a medical checkup when he eventually stole a black Nokia C1 valued at E2,000, belonging to another patient, Zandi Sithole.

Mhlongo was arrested on August 31 for the charge and appeared before the Mbabane Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty. Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi found him guilty as charged.

Mhlongo said he regretted his actions and asked for the court’s leniency. He also said he was a first offender. He was sentenced to pay an E2000 fine or in default, serve two years imprisonment. Nhlabatsi further warned him to learn from his mistake, stressing that crime ruins one’s future and that he still has time to turn his life around by making better choices.