Phalombe First Grade Magistrates Court has convicted and sentenced Rafiki Stephano Benard, 28 to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for robbery.

State Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Lawrence Kambale told the court that the accused person with other eight accomplices robbed K7 million and various items from a business person Blessings Chinangwa at his home in Mitochi Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Chiwalos area in the district on November 30, 2024.

The court heard that two of the robbers were assaulted to death by the villagers while the other six robbers are still at large.

Passing sentence, Magistrate Leonard Mtosa imposed the stiff punishment to deter would-be offenders and serve as a lesson to the convicts for robbing innocent business people in the district.

One of the people who witnessed the court proceedings, Andrew Thom said people were generally pleased that the case had taken only a single day to conclude in court.

“We are happy with the way this case has been handled,” said Thom.

Bernard hails from Kumpini Village in the area of T/A Mkumbira in Zomba.