A man identified as Pililani Mphepo ,23 has been slapped with 5 years imprisonment to with hard labour by Balaka second grade magistrate court for stealing goats in the district.
Balaka police police deputy publicist Precious Makuta said court was informed by the state prosecutor sub inspector Lyton Kachikondo of Balaka police station during proceedings, that the convict, during the night of 12th to 13th December, 2019 went at Mr Dafutala Chipala’s home and broke the goat kraal and later managed to steal seven goats that valued at K150,000.00.
“They even killed three young ones and left them in the kraal. The owner realised the theft the very same night as he went out of the house to answer the call of nature,” Makuta said.
According to Makuta, a report was made to police through community policing members for quick investigations.
“Officers who were on patrols during the night, were alerted. They managed to recover all the seven goats and also arrested the convict as they intercepted a vehicle that carried the goats,”
“The prosecutor then asked the court for a powerful custodial sentence upon the convict to send a signal to would be offenders since such cases are becoming rampant in the district,” he said.
Without much ado, the second grade magistrate Victor sibu, who concurred with the state for a meaningful custodial sentence, granted the convict 5 years with hard labour.
Pililani Mphepo hails from Makangata village Traditional authority Nsamala in Balaka district.
