The Blantyre Senior Resident Magistrate Court has sentenced five men to at least 14 years imprisonment with hard labour each for breaking into a house and stealing property worth K10 million.
The five are Patrick John Black, 43, Frank Mikaya, 37, Peter Mussa Banda, 26, Nenani Kampala, 32 and Yoweli Nowa, 38.
Sub Inspector Peter Mchiza, Blantyre Police Public Relations Officer said the court heard through state prosecutor Inspector John Chigundo that, during the night of January 9, 2022 the five were among criminals who broke into a certain house in Namiwawa and injured members of the house before stealing various properties worthy K10 million.
The matter was reported at Chilomoni Police Sub-Station and they instituted investigations that led to the arrest of the suspects.
In submission, prosecutor Chigundo prayed for a stiffer punishment, saying the convicts’ behaviour dwindles development at both family and national levels.
Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Elijah Blackboard Dazilikwiza Pachalo Daniels concurred with the state and expressed his concern over the five’s behaviour.
He therefore sentenced Banda, Kampala and Nowa to 14 years each, Black to 15 years while Mikaya to 16 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Banda and Black hail from Traditional Authority Mlumbe in Zomba District, Kampala comes from Traditional Authority Sitola in Machinga, Nowa hails from Chantulo Village in Traditional Authority Nankumba in Mangochi while Frank Mikaya comes from Traditional Authority Nkhulambe in Phalombe District.
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