Ntcheu First Grade Magistrate Court has sentenced three criminals to 72 months in prison for breaking into police officer’s homes and stole assorted items.
Ntcheu Police Public Relations Officer Sergeant Andrew Kamanga has identified the convicts as Wedson January 41, Jackson Kathumba 34, and Billy Ng’ambani 29 who were answering the charges of Burglary and Theft contrary to section 309 subsection 1 of the penal code.
The state prosecutor Inspector Evance Kantukule told the court that on November 6 to 7 last year, the three broke into the house Sergeant Balekani Nyondo of Senzani Police Station where they stole cellphones, DVD player and a mountain bike all worth K250, 000.00.
Also on the night of February 28 March 2018, the three went into the house Constable Levison Banda of Senzani police where they stole a 32 inch Plasma screen, DVD player and a subwoofer all valued at K390, 000.00.
One of them was caught with the items as he wanted to board a bus at Kangankudi bus stage which is a kilometer away from Senzani Trading Centre.
Following that, police launched an investigation that led to the arrest of his colleagues.
Appearing in court, the prosecutor asked the court to hand them a stiff punishment saying that the practice of stealing from police officers will have a negative impact on other officers in rural areas who may not be willing to work during odd hours in fear of being robbed.
Passing the judgment, his Worship Chrispine Sachuluka said the three really deserved a stiff punishment as the behaviour they showed is unwelcome in society. He also said they could have continued the trend just to break a record of robbing in police officers’ houses at Senzani Police Unit.
He therefore sentenced the three to 72 months imprisonment with hard labour on all two counts of Burglary and Theft which will run concurrently.
Wedson January 41 hails from Mponda village traditional authority Nsamala Balaka and Jackson Kathumba 34 hails from Msolo village traditional authority Kachindamoto Dedza while Billy Ng’ambani 29 comes from Phingo village traditional authority Chanthunya Balaka district.
