The Ntchisi Magistrate’s court has sentenced a 28 year old man to eight years imprisonment with hard labour for robbery with violence.

The court heard that the man, Henry Chafukira on December 2 last year stole a bicycle belonging to Neftali Noel using violence at Kavulala Village in the district.

According to the details provided in the court, the victim was coming from Malomo Trading Centre going towards Kavulala Village and met the convict who produced a panga knife and hacked him on the forehead.

He then robbed him of the bicycle and fled to an unknown destination and was later arrested by the police during a sweeping exercise.

Chafukira pleaded not guilty to the charge and the state brought in three witnesses.

Passing judgement, First Grade Magistrate, Dorothy Kalua said the offence was serious in nature and deserved a stiffer sentence hence she sentenced him to eight years imprisonment with hard labour to deter would be offenders.

In a related development, the court also heard that Chafukira also robbed Teleza Tembo from Kavulala village of a bicycle which was later recovered after police investigations and he was sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour.