The Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate Court convicted and sentenced a 36-year-old man, Justice Good, to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour for setting ablaze his brother’s house.
Nkhotakota Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Chisomo Chuma says the court through police prosecutor Sub Inspector Thokozani Juziel heard that, Good committed the offence on July 27, 2022 at Kudoko Village in the district.
Chuma says the court further heard that on the material day, the convict picked a quarrel with his brother on suspicious that he bewitched him.
“The convict went on and set the house ablaze and property worth K430,000.00 got burnt in the fire,” he says.
Appearing before court, Good on his own pleaded guilty for the charge leveled against him.
However, police prosecutor prayed for a stiff sentence since the convict committed the offence deliberately and the sentence will send as a signal to would-be offenders.
In mitigation, the convict asked the court to exercise lenient with him when delivering the sentence, claiming that he is a breadwinner to his family.
Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Felix Phaiya concurred with the state and quashed the convict’s mitigating factors and ordered him to spend 5 years jail term.
Justice Good hails from Kudoko Village in the area of Traditional Authority Nkhanga in Nkhotakota District.
