A 24-year-old man in Balaka district has been sentenced to 168 months in prison with hard labour by Balaka First Grade Magistrate Court for the offence of house breaking and theft contrary to sections 309(a) and 278 of the penal code.
The convict, Mabvuto Mmanga committed the offence on 27th September 2018 at Andiamo location in Balaka at around 09:00 hrs as the owner was away from home for other business.
The state prosecutor, Sargent Winlly Chikhobili told the court that during that time, the accused broke into the house of Mr Mabvuto Chisi, 35 and went away with one subwoofer, four supersonic twitters, one pair of shorts and one expand all valued at K150,000.
The prosecutor added on and said that the convict was previously convicted against the similar offence therefore pleaded for a stiffer punishment for him to fully be reformed.
First Grade Magistrate Felix Mandala without much ado granted the convict 96 months and 24 months imprisonment with hard labour for the first and second count but the sentence to run concurrently before he slapped him with 72 months imprisonment with hard labour for the similar offence that he committed separately.
The First Grade Magistrate court again slapped the convict and his colleague Ephraim James Ulaya ,19 years of Chiyembekezo village Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka district to 72 months imprisonment with hard labour each for again the offence of house breaking and theft that again contravenes sections 309(a) and 278 of penal code.
During the proceedings the state prosecutor Sargent Winlly Chikhobili alerted the court that on the 30th September, 2918 at around 13:00hrs, the two broke into a dwelling house of Mr Edison Byson, 27 years of Kandengwe village Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka district and stole 4 mobile phones, 1 sack bag and kitchen utensils, all to the total valued of K80,000.00.
This happened at Majiga 2 location within the Balaka town.
The prosecutor went on and said that such people deserves heavy punishments for are a threat to the community.
First grade magistrate Felix Mandala concurred with the state and then granted the two convicts 72 months imprisonment with hard labour each.
Mabvuto Chisi will fave imprisonment with hard labour for a period of 168 months.
