A 29-year-old man in Nkhatabay district has been handed a 36 months jail sentence after being found guilty of stealing his sister’s fertilizer subsidy coupon and also a goat.

Nkhatabay police station public relations officer, Kondwani James has identified the convict as Gideo Manda who received the sentence on December, 05 2018 before Nkhatabay First Grade Magistrate Court.

In October this year the court heard through state prosecutor sergeant Keston Chiona that Miss Greatice Nyirenda of Chijere village TA Timbiri in Nkhata Bay, acquired fertilizer subsidy coupon and kept it awaiting for the purchasing period.

“Unfortunately, one day as she was searching for her National ID at the place where she kept it together with the coupon, she realised that the coupon in question was not there.

“Later after inquiring from other people, she was tipped that the convict who is her brother was selling coupon within the area yet he had no access to have it,” the prosecutor told the court.

It was said that upon quizzing him, the convict admitted to have stolen the coupon and he demanded K5000.00 from his sister for him to bring it back.

Miss Nyirenda reported the matter to Nkhata Bay police who arrested the accused.

The court further heard that on the same date the convict also stole a goat which belonged to his sister too.

Appearing in court, the convict pleaded guilty to both counts.

In his submission, the state prosecutor sergeant Keston Chiona prayed for stiffer punishment against the law breaker to earn him a good lesson.

The convict mitigated that he is the breadwinner hence, prayed for leniency.

Passing sentence his worship the First Grade Magistrate Maston Phiri expressed worry over the convict’s behaviour.

He therefore sentenced him to 12 months IHL for the first count and 24 months IHL for the second count which all are to run concurrently.

The convict hails from Chijere Village in the area of Traditional Authority Timbiri in the district.