Mangochi First Grade Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced Rose Naminga and Lucy Mangani both aged 61 and Daina Thukuwa 60 to 8 and 12 months respectively for stealing assorted items at Chipiku stores contrary to section 278 of the penal code.

The court learnt through Sub Inspenctor Grace Mindozo that on January 2, 2025 the three elderly women posing as customers entered the and stole 15 litres gallons of motor oil and 20 packs of panado worth K249,480 property.

Appearing before First Grade Magistrate Roy Kakutu, the accused persons pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against them, leading to an immediate conviction.

In mitigation, the accused prayed for the court’s leniency, stating that they are breadwinners who looks after their grandchildren, hence if sent to prison there famillies will suffer.

In her submission, Sub lnspector Mindozo asked for stiffer punishment to serve as a lesson to Thukuwa who influences her friends to such a bad behaviour as well as for failing to reform after being released from prison.

” Our records at Police shows that Thukuwa was convicted of a similar offense in 2022 and served a two-year sentence at Mangochi Prison.

She further added that the three Women deserves a long custodial sentence for them to be reformed, as well as to deter the would-be offenders.

Magistrate Kakutu councured with the state by sentencing the habitual offender Thukuwa to 12 months and both Naminga and Mangani to 8 months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Naminga hails from Nabuka village in Traditional Authority ( T/A) Mkaya , Thukuwa comes from kachikuni Village, T/ A Nsamala both in Balaka district while Mangani comes from Lungucha Village, T/A Machinjiri in Blantyre.