The Dowa First Grade Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced 28-year-old man, Amoni Maliseni, to 4 years imprisonment with hard labour for arson and use of insulting language.

State prosecutor Inspector Christopher Daluni told the court that the convict, Amoni Maliseni, on March 20 2022 at Chavu Village in Dowa District willfully and unlawfully set fire to two houses belonging to his sister Loyce Mwale and his cousin Grace Marko, where properties worth K61 000.00 was damaged.

The court also learnt that on the same day the convict used insulting language in a manner to provoke his sister Loyce Mwale to break peace.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded guilty to charges of arson and use of insulting language contrary to Sections 337 and 182 respectively.

In his submission, state prosecutor Inspector Christopher Daluni asked the court to mete out a stiff punishment to the offender, saying the offences committed are serious in nature hence the need to deter others from committing similar offences.

Presiding over the case, First Grade Magistrate Robert Botha concurred with the state’s submission and sentenced the convict to 4 years imprisonment with hard labour for the first and second count of arson and the third count of use of insulting language has earned him 6 months imprisonment with hard labour.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

The convict, Amoni Maliseni, comes from Chavu Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chiwere in Dowa