Mponela First Grade Magistrate Court has sentenced a 27-year-old man, John Kwenda, to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a goat.

The court through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Clement Bwanali heard that on February 06, 2020, Kwenda untied one of the goats belonging to Goliati Gwafali at Matilira Village in the area of Traditional Authority Dzoole in Dowa district.

Kwenda stole the goat worthy K15,000. He was later arrested by chairperson of Community Policing Forum(CPF)of the area who handed him to Mponela Police Station.

During court proceedings , Kwenda pleaded guilty to the charge of theft of goat which contraven section 281 of the penal code.

Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Yohane Nkhata said that the offence is serious in nature. He therefore ordered him to stay 18 months in prison in order to deter would-be offenders.

Kwenda hails from Mose Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mazengela in Lilongwe District.