Man gets four years for burglary

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Mchinji

A court in Nkhatabay on Wednesday sentenced a 34 year-old man to four years in jail for stealing money, lotion, and shoes from a woman’s house.

The convict who has been identified as Lameck Banda was found guilty for the offences of burglary and theft.

crime (2)Court records show that on the night of October 22, Sabina Jere who works as a manager for London lodge (located within Chintheche trading center) left her house which is located within the premises of London lodge well secured and proceeded to her friend’s house where she spent a night.

“The following day she was surprised to see that one of her house windows was broken and when she went inside the house, she discovered that some of her items that included K11, 000 cash, keys for the said lodge, lotions and assorted pair of shoes were missing,” said Public Relations Officer of Police in Nkhatabay Ignatius Esau.

After the matter was reported to police, the suspect was arrested on October 25 and was charged with two counts of burglary and theft contrary to sections 309 and 278 of the penal code respectively.

Two witnesses were paraded after the suspect had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.

And on Wednesday the court found Banda guilty of the charges. In his mitigation, the convict pleaded with the court to show leniency when sentencing him since most of the items that he stole were recovered.

First Grade Magistrate Manson Phiri when passing sentence noted with concern the rising number of such cases in the district.

He later handed the convict a four year jail term for the offence of burglary and one year for theft, sentences which will run concurrently.

Lameck Banda comes from Msundu village, Traditional Authority Malanda in Nkhatabay district.