The Makande First Grade Magistrates Court on July 1, 2021, sentenced a form four student Watson Jombo,18, to two years Imprisonment with Hard Labour for housebreaking and theft.
The Court heard through Ngabu Police prosecutor Sergeant Mwanyala Goche that Jombo on May 22, 2021, broke into a house of the victim and went away with an expand bag containing new clothes and cash amounting to K150,000, all valued about K350,000.
In Court, Jombo pleaded not guilty which prompted the state to parade four witnesses who testified against him.
In his submission, Sergeant Goche asked the court to give a deterrent sentence to the convict since all the items which were stolen were not recovered and the offences he committed are serious.
In his mitigation, the convict asked the court to be lenient when giving sentence considering that he is a form four student whereby he is expected to sit for Malawi School Certificate of Education examinations this year.
When passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Chiyembekezo Phiri concurred with the State and ordered the convict to spend two years in prison for the irst count of housebreaking and one year for the second count of theft. Both sentences will run concurrently.
Jombo hails from Jombo Village, Traditional Authority Ngabu in Chikwawa District.
DOWA MAN GETS 20 YEARS IHL FOR RAPING 91-YEAR-OLD WOMAN
The Senior Resident Magistrates Court sitting in Dowa District has convicted and sentenced a 25-year-old man, Thokozani Andrew, to 20 years Imprisonment with Hard Labour for raping a 91-year-old woman.
The Court through State Prosecutor Inspector Christopher Daluni heard that the convict, Thokozani Andrew, committed the offence on September 9, 2020, at Kapilingiza Village in Dowa District, where he raped a 91-year-old woman without her consent.
It was further learnt in Court that the victim went to Mkanganya Forest within the village to collect charcoal leftovers at charcoal ovens but suddenly the convict appeared from behind where he grabbed and raped her.
Appearing in court, the convict pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape contrary to Section 133 of the Penal Code. The State paraded four witnesses, leading to his conviction.
In his submission, Daluni asked the Court to mete out stiff punishment to the offender, saying the offence committed is serious and that the victim is too old for the act.
Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Joana Kwatiwani concurred with the State’s submission for a stiff punishment and sentenced the convict to 20 years (IHL) to deter other would-be offenders.
Andrew comes from Kaziputa Village in the area of Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa District.