The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court convicted and sentenced Asif Master, 37, to 11 years imprisonment with hard labor for setting ablaze his boss’s shop and burning property worth K650 million after misappropriating a sum of K45 million due to betting.
The court heard from the Station’s Prosecution Officer Inspector Amos Mwase that Master was working as a Manager at Steel World Shop in Mangochi and was addicted to DBR and Aviator betting.
After the owner of the shop, Safraz Ibrahim (based in Blantyre), noticed frequent losses from the convict, he informed him that he would send auditors and install CCTV cameras in the shop, inciting fear in the convict, who had already squandered K45 million from the sales.
Due to this development, the convict hired his Shop Assistant, James Mayere (who is still at large), and paid him a sum of K1.5 million through Airtel Money to set the shop on fire to conceal the evidence.
Prosecutor Mwase added that in the early hours of April 22, 2024, after the shop’s guard knocked off, Mayere was seen running away through the back window after throwing a petrol bomb, igniting the shop. The fire quickly spread throughout the whole place despite well-wishers’ attempts to cool it down.
The matter was reported to the Police, who visited the scene and discovered footprints and a cap belonging to the fugitive suspect. Police instituted investigations leading to the arrest of the convict after he failed to explain why he sent a huge sum of money to Mayere.
Appearing in court, the convict, who pleaded guilty to charges of arson and theft by servant, shocked the court when he said he had nothing to say after being given a chance to mitigate.
In his submission, prosecutor Mwase cited that the convict’s heartless behavior has caused trauma to his boss, who has lost a lot of money in the business, hence prayed for a custodial sentence.
Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Muhammad Chande concurred with the state.
He therefore sentenced him to Seven years for Arson and Four years imprisonment with hard labour for the second count as a deterrent to other untrustworthy servants. All sentences to run consecutively
The convict is from India.
Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi
Public Relations Officer
Mangochi Police Station
Cell:0999-706-525
Email:amina.tepani@police.gov.mw
Website:www.police.gov.mw