The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court sitting in Mangochi has on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, sentenced Samson John, 38 to 5-years imprisonment with hard labor for stealing from various Chipiku stores.

The court heard through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Maggie Chibulire that, the convict who came to Mangochi from Blantyre on December 17, 2021, and lodged at one of the resthouses with other three women who were convicted each to 2-years last month by the same court, confessed to being a shoplifting trainer.

The convict and others targeted three Chipiku Stores in the district and stole various groceries including cooking oils, motor vehicle oils, Kiwi shoe polish, Nido powder milk, lotions, washing, and bathing soaps all items worth 1.5 million Kwacha.

They were arrested on December 21, 2021, at Koche roadblock after stealing from Maldeco Chipiku depot following a tip from members of the community and some of the stolen items were recovered but he was excused from trials after being tested positive to COVID-19.

Appearing in court, John pleaded not guilty to the charge and the state paraded three witnesses who proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In mitigation, the convict who demonstrated how he used to train the women to break away without being caught asked for the court’s leniency, citing that he is a breadwinner to his family but prosecutor Chibulire said that the convict’s behavior is a disgrace and cannot be tolerated hence prayed for a stiffer penalty.

Passing judgement, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state hence the 5-year jail term to serve as a lesson to other would-be offenders

John comes from Mambula Village Traditional Authority Mabuka in Mulanje.