Man has been sentenced to 6 years imprisonment with hard labour for alleged theft which is contrary to section 311 of Malawi’s penal code by Blantyre first grade magistrate, Diana Magwana.

Blantyre Police Assistant Public Relation Officer Andrew Mayawo, confirmed of the development and identified the convict as Patrick Maxwell.

The convict together with three others, who are still on the run, broke into a shop belonging to Mayeso Kamangilana in Manase Township in Blantyre.

“The other three managed to get away with items worthy K150000 while Maxwell was caught,” said Mayawo.

In mitigation, the convict pleaded for lenient punishment citing that prisons in Malawi are not in good conditions for human beings.

However, state prosecutor Inspector Mark Mithuru asked for tough punishment following a previous criminal record that the convict had. Mithuru further said the court must also consider the high increase of cases of breaking into buildings around the city of Blantyre when sentencing Maxwell.

Maxwell hails from Kamtimbanya village, Tradition Authority (TA) Somba in Blantyre.