Six years for stealing from PAC spokesperson’s office

One of the three thugs who were arrested for breaking into Zomba Diocese Research and Development offices (ZARD) where Public Affairs Committee spokesperson Father Peter Mulomole works has been sentenced to six years in prison.

The suspect Matias Gama, 35, alongside his friends broke into six offices at ZARD office Complex on the night of 5th April, 2017.

According to state prosecutor Superintendent Florida Dzimbiri, the suspect and his friends, tied the guards before breaking into the offices.

They went away with cash amounting to over 2 million Malawi Kwacha and assorted items which include laptops, digital cameras, projector and other office equipment.

Dzimbiri said upon investigations, Police managed to arrest the three suspects and this led to the recovery of some of the items they stole.

Gama, unlike his friends, pleaded guilty to the charge of breaking into the building and committing a felony therein which is contrary to section 311 of the Penal code and this made the state to temporarily withdraw the two other suspects from the charge.

Prosecutor Dzimbiri asked the court to consider giving Gama a stiff sentence considering the seriousness of the offence.

In his mitigation, Gama asked for lenience when passing sentence since he is breadwinner for his family.

Passing sentence, Zomba Senior Resident Magistrate Wyson Nkhata noted that the convict does not want to change since he was previously convicted of a similar offence.

He therefore sentenced him to six years imprisonment with hard labour. He said he gave him such a sentence so that it should be a lesson to him and would-be offenders.

The court is however yet to hear the case against the other two suspects.

Matias Gama comes from Isaac village in the area of Traditional Authority Mlumbe in Zomba district.