The Zomba First Grade Magistrate’s Court has sentenced two Zomba District Health Office (DHO) accounts assistants to six years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for an offence of theft by public servant which is contrary to Section 283 of the Penal Code.

The two accounts assistants are Frank Kapitaapa and Kainja Mayamiko Mpando who were arrested earlier this year and appeared before the court where they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

However, the court heard that the two accounts assistants had failed to account for K12 million following an audit which was conducted at the health facility’s offices in April 2012.

“Upon police investigations, it was established that Frank Kapitaapa and Kainja Mayamiko Mpando were the ones responsible for the stolen items. The audit revealed that HIV determining test kit and drugs worth over K12 million were stolen,” the court was told on Thursday.

Nonetheless, after full trial of the case, magistrate Robert Makaika then ruled that the two should serve a sentence of six years in prison. He also ruled that this should be done under the consideration that they automatically lose their jobs and benefits.

In addition to that, it had transpired that Kapitaapa, who is aged over 50 years, has served the civil service for a period of 28 years. Kapitaapa comes from Kapitaapa Village, T/A Mlumbe in Zomba whereas Mpando is from Kamange 1 Village, T/A Kamange in Nkhotakota.

In a related development, the court also convicted Hassan Moffat to three years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for an assault occasioning actual bodily harm which is contrary to Section 254 of the Penal Code.

Hassan assaulted his wife Dorothy Botoman on 15th October last year at Mkutu Rest House in Zomba. He comes from Makunganya Village, T/A Mlumbe in the district.