The Ntchisi First Grade Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Maxwell Zofunamtima Liwonde, 38, to seven years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for house breaking and theft.
The court heard that the convict committed two similar offences on the morning of June 21 2014 at Chimwankhuku village in the area of Traditional Authority Kalumo in the district.
The court further heard that the convict first broke into the house of Takondwa Nkhoma of Chimwankhuku village in the area of Traditional Authority Kalumo in the district where he stole items such as 10 plastic plates, five clay pots, cooking oil, two kilograms of cremora milk and a wheel bar all valued at K35,000.
The court also heard that, on the same day, the convict went to Noel Kachapila’s house in the same village where he stole three bags of maize valued at K10,800. Liwondwe was arrested the following day after being recognised by the child who saw him stealing from the first house.
He pleaded guilty to both charges and, in mitigation,asked the court for leniency. Passing judgement, Second Grade Magistrate Young Ng’oma said he meted out the sentence to deter would-be-offenders.
The magistrate then sentenced Liwonde to seven and half years on the first count of house breaking and nine months on the second count of theft to run concurrently.
The convict comes from Feliya village in the area of Traditional Authority Kalumo in the district. Meanwhile, the court has sentenced a 20-year-old man Chipiliro Yolamu to four years imprisonment with hard labour for committing the offence indecent act with a child contrary to section 160 of the penal code.
The court heard that the convict on the night of July 30 2014 at Chaferapanjira initiation camp (dambwe) procured a 12-year-old-boy to have oral-genital sex with him
