The Dowa Third Grade Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced a 41-year-old man to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing sheep.

State prosecutor Ezara Bakili told the court that the convict Dyson Mateyu on November 7 2020 at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa District stole nine sheep valued at K225 000.00 belonging to Bosco Ngaluchimana, a Rwandan national.

Bakili further told the court the convict has been hiring young boys to take the sheep to an area and then paid them K1000 for the work.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded not guilty. This prompted the state to parade five witnesses leading to his conviction.

Passing sentence, Third Grade Magistrate Harrison Stick said the convict deserved a custodial sentence and sentenced him to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour as caution to others with similar intentions.

The convict comes from Mtanda Village in the area of Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa District.