A 30-year-old man has been fined K283,000 for setting on fire his niece’s property in Blantyre.
The man has been identified as Griffin Mtendere.
The Limbe court heard through prosecutor Sergeant Mary Ndagonela that on the day of the incident the convict threatened his niece Mwandida Mayawa with a knife at her house.
He then forcibly entered into her bedroom before setting on fire all the beddings and some assorted items, all damaged property worth K416,000. 
The woman rushed to her neighbours’ for assistance and the convict fled.
Later, the matter was reported at Limbe Police station and after successful manhunt, Mtendere was arrested and taken to court where he denied the charge of malicious damage which is in contravention of section 344(1) of the penal code.
This prompted the prosecutor to parade three witnesses who testified against Mtendere and on October 26, 2018, second grade magistrate His worship George Chimombo found Mtendere guilty.
Chimombo then ordered Mtendere to pay a fine of K283,000 or in default a 2-year jail term, as one way of deterring would be offenders.
If paid, the whole amount will be given to the complainant as compensation.
The convict Mtendere comes from Mkwanda village in Traditional Authority Malemia-Zomba.
