By Greshum chikoti
Senior Resident Court in Zomba has sentenced 40-year-old Innocent Maolera to 16 years imprisonment and his two accomplices Francis Gomani, 46, and Foster Makwinja, 24, each to 12 years imprisonment for armed robbery.
The court heard through the state prosecutor Inspector Rodney Botoman that during the night of 26 June 2020 the trio, while armed with a short gun and metal bars, broke into a church in the city and stole one semiton mixer, 2 amplifiers, 3 sets of microphones, K4, 000 cash and a cell phone all valued to K1 million.
The matter was reported to Zomba Police Station after the investigations the three were apprehended.
They pleaded not guilty but the state paraded witnesses to prove the case and the three were found guilty.
In mitigation they asked for lenient sentences.
In submission, the state prayed for stiff sentences since the offence that they commited was well planned.
When passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state and sentenced Innocent Maolela to 16 years imprisonment since he was previously convicted and his accomplices each to 12 years in prison.
Maolela hails from Ulole village Traditional Authority Chimalilo in Thyolo District while Gomani comes from Muliba village,Traditional Authority Chikumbu in Mulanje and Makwinja comes from Mteteka village Traditional Authority Chikowi in Zomba District.
Sub-Inspector Patricia Sipiliano
Public Relations officer Zomba Police Station