A 39-year-old man in Dowa has been sentenced to serve 20 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a bicycle.

The state prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Banda told the Dowa First Grade Magistrate Court on Tuesday that the convict, Jabesi Kanyamula on March 23, 2021 at Wenela Location in the district of Dowa stole a bicycle valued at K80 000.00 belonging to Kingsley Dumbo.

The accused in the court pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of bicycle contrary to Section 282 of the Penal Code.

Passing the sentence, First Grade Magistrate Amran Phiri sentenced the offender to 20 months imprisonment with hard labour as a warning to other would-be offenders.

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