Kasungu second grade magistrate court on Friday sentenced two men to 20 months in prison for damaging a police unit and obstructing police officers.
Deputy Public Relations officer for Kasungu police Harry Namwaza identified the convicts as Chikaiko Nkhata, 22, and Phanizo Nkhata aged 19.
Namwaza said the two broke into Kamboni police unit in order to release their relative who was in police custody.
According to the police spokesperson, on February 3 a relative to the two men stole a packet of cigarettes valued at K700 from a shop at Kamboni Trading centre in the district.
When the matter was reported to police the suspect was arrested and placed in custody.
But after the arrest, people from Kamboni mobilised themselves and broke into Kamboni police unit where the suspect was being kept. At the police unit, the villagers damaged windows valued at K196,600.
The police later arrested the two and brought them before the court of law.
State prosecutor Jennings Mkandawire asked the court to give the convicts stiff punishments considering that they did not respect the country’s law.
When passing the judgement, Kasungu first grade magistrate court Thomson Madaisa reminded the convicts that they showed bad behaviour. He then slapped each of them with a 20 month jail term.
Both men are from Zikhole village, Traditional Authority Kawamba in Kasungu district.
