The Second Grade Magistrate’s court in Nkhata-Bay has today convicted and sentenced a 28-year-old Maxwell Chinula to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour for breaking into a shop belonging to William Phiri at Nkhata-Bay Boma and stole smart phones worth MK10 million.

According to state prosecutor Sub Inspector Andrew Singini, after working for the complainant for four years, Chinula committed the offence by drilling a hole behind the shop wall of his former employee between thr night of 23 and 24 December 2023.

He was arrested on January 16 after being captured on shop’s CCTV camera which showed several suspects loitering in but their faces could not be identified except Chirwa who was charged with breaking into a building and committing felony therein.

Despite denying the offence in court during his first appearance, two state witnesses plus the camera footage proved him guilty leading to his conviction.

Chinula who hails from Chinula Village, Traditional Authority Jalavikuwa in Mzimba prayed for leniency on grounds that he looks after his family but Magistrate Alex Mailos sentenced him to 5 years Imprisonment with Hard Labour.

Source: Zodiak