The Lilongwe Second Grade Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced a 41-year-old, Blessings Chiponde to 9 years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL)for theft by servant.
The Court heard through Kawale Prosecutions Officer (SPO), Inspector Fancy Sichali that Blessings Chiponde was on December 14, 2024 employed as a taxi-driver by Davie Minjolo and after a two days business operation he brought K40,000 to the car owner.
Inspector Fancy Sichali further told the court that after this, the convict disappeared with the car, prompting the owner to lodge a complaint at Area 24 Police Unit
Furthermore, the court was informed that investigations uncovered that the convict sold the car through breaking parts and went into hiding in Mchinji district until the day of his arrest on January 1,2025.
Arraigned in Court, he was found guilty after full trial. However, in his mitigations, he asked for leniency as he was a first offender, and that he was driven by poverty and later promised the court not to do it again once forgiven.
In submission, Inspector Fancy Sichali asked for maximum penalty of 14 years, citing that the convict benefited from the crime and that the conduct needs to be corrected by sending him to Prison.
Magistrate Tiwonge Muwalo concurred with the state and sentenced him to serve a jail term of 108 months, which is equivalent to 9 years IHL as a transformetory period.
Blessings Chiponde hails from Gandali Village Traditional Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe .
Sub-Inspector Precious Mavuto Phiri
PRO-Kawale Police Station
Cell:0995873467/0884024149