The Court in Mulanje has sentenced Charles Banda to four years in prison for impersonating a public officer.

Banda was arrested on July 20, 2024, after attempting to solicit bribes from Billat Harrison, a shop owner in Bondo Village, Mulanje District, when Harrison failed to produce cash sales records for his merchandise.

State Prosecutor Constable John Chikuni stated that Banda presented two employment cards, one for the Malawi Police Service and another for the Malawi Defence Force, both bearing the name Mr. Solomoni. Banda claimed to be a high-ranking officer in both security departments.

During the pre-sentencing hearing this morning, Constable Chikuni revealed that Banda had previously served a two-year jail sentence for a similar offence last year and was released on a presidential pardon on July 6 this year. Banda committed the same crime just two weeks later.

Before pronouncing the sentence, First Grade Magistrate George Chimombo expressed disbelief at Banda’s lack of remorse, questioning how he could commit a similar offence so soon after being pardoned.