Phalombe First Grade Magistrate court has sentenced two men, Mike Justin and Chimwemwe Nahipa, aged to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour for theft.
State prosecutor Shadrick Likhala, told court that Mike Justin and his accomplice, broke into the warehouse of Dozola Chingwalu, where they stole a bicycle, two solar panels and 25 kilograms of Urea Fertilizer. All stolen properties valued at K 222, 500.
He further said that, Nahipa was found offering for sale a stolen solar panels that lead to the arrest of him and his accomplice.
Appearing before the First Grade Magistrate Leonard Mtosa, the duo denied the charge leveled against them.That prompted the state to parade four witnesses to prove beyond reasonable doubt.
In their mitigations, they pleaded for leniency since they are first offenders and bread winners for their families.
In submission, Likhala prayed for stiffer punishment, saying cases of these kind are rampant and the behaviour shown by convicts is a threat to the society.
First Grade Magistrate, Mtosa concurred with the state, henceforth, sentenced the two to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Mike Justin hails from Maliko Village, Traditional Authority Chiwalo in Phalombe district while Chimwemwe Nahipa, comes Nthambula Village Traditional Authority Chiwalo in Phalombe district.
