Nkhata Bay Senior Resident Magistrate Court,has convicted and sentenced  a 33 year-old man to 14 years imprisonment with hard labor (IHL) for attempting to rob Morris Mabasa who is a teacher at Chithowe Primary School teacher of his mobile phone.

State Prosecutor, Dorothy Kanzangaza identified the convicted as Vincent Chima, who committed the offence on September 10, 2024, around Chithowe Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority Kabunduli.

Kanzangaza told the court that on the stated date, Mabasa, left his house in search of a mobile phone network connection and in the process, Chima approached him with his accomplice who is currently at large to rob him of the phone.

“The duo started beating Mabasa while ordering him to drop the phone. Mabasa then shouted for help and was rescued by his colleagues,” said Kanzangaza.

She added that the was reported to Mzenga Police Unit, and investigations were instituted leading to the arrest of Chima, who was charged with attempted robbery against Section 302(2) of the Penal Code and that efforts are underway to arrest his accomplice.

Chima pleaded guilty to the charge and the State appealed to the court to give a stiff sentence to deter would-be offenders as robbery cases are common in the district.

Passing the sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate, Godfrey Nyirenda argued that young men like Chima need to focus on other income-generating activities other than theft which infringes other people’s rights.

Vincent Chima who hails from John Chima Village, TA Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay District.