The Principal Resident Magistrate Court in Zomba has convicted and sentenced four people including a police officer to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for possessing human bones.

The four are Chikondi Chileka, 35, a police officer, Enock Dambo 53, Samson Mathanki 48 and James Jomen Chitseko 29.

State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Loius Makiyi of Eastern Region Police Headquarters, told the jam packed court that the four were arrested in Machinga district in April, 2018, after being found with 12 human bones believed to have been exhumed from human corpses of persons with albinism.

Two charges were levelled against the four and they included found in possession of human tissues and selling or buying human tissues.

One of the state witness, Pathologist Dr. Charles Dzamalala told the court that, upon examination, he found that the bones were human bones and belonged to two different male persons.

Passing sentence on February 2, 2020, Principal Resident Magistrate Benedictus Chitsakamire said the offences committed were heinous and immoral.

He therefore sentenced each of the four to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour saying cases of exhuming bodies of people with albinism are escalating in the country and it’s the duty of the courts to protect such people.

Enock Damba, Samson Mathanki and James Jomen Chitseko hail from Traditional Authority Chikweo in Machinga district while Chikondi Chileka comes from Masunda village Traditional Authority Phambala in Ntcheu district.