The Dedza senior resident magistrate court has convicted two men Samson Yonas 22 who is a Mozambican and Allan Jackson 32 to 5 and 2 years respectively for breaking into Mtendere parish church and managed to steal assorted items valued at K718,000.00.
During the night of 22 April 2021, the two broke Mtendere parish church and stole a computer, bibles, clothes, wrappers and many church items.
According to state prosecutor Sergeant Blessings Chimutu, some of the stolen items were found in Mozambique where they were sold by the two convicts while some of the items were found in Malawi.
“The computer was sold at K100,000.00 in Mozambique but was recovered after investigations” said Chimutu.
The two were arrested last month and they both pleaded guilty to the charge of breaking into a building and commiting a felony.
In mitigation, they both asked for leniency saying they look after their parents but the state through Sergeant Blessings Chimutu asked the court for leniency saying such cases are on the increase hence there was need to give stiff sentences to offenders to deter other would be offenders.
Passing sentence, magistrate Clemence Chamwenda concurred with the state and sentenced Samson Yonas to 5 years since he was not the first time offender and Allan Jackson sentenced to 2 years since he was a first time offender.
Jackson comes from Mwala village in the area of Traditional Authority Tambala in Dedza while Samson comes from Mozambique.
