Three individuals, Synate Kachingwe (39), Chiwone Maganizo (25), and Mike Nkhoma (27), have been convicted and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment each for robbery in Lilongwe by the Principal Resident Magistrate court.
According to Lilongwe Police deputy public relations officer Constable Khumbo Sanyiwa, the convicts broke into a warehouse on April 16, 2023.
Sanyiwa said they bound the guard and stole 38 bags of soya beans weighing 50 kilograms each, 11 Humber bicycles, and 2 batteries, worth a total of K6 Million.
“The police were eventually able to recover 26 bags of soya bean seeds and 2 Humber bicycles from the convicts.
“All the convicts pleaded not guilty to the charge of breaking and theft when they appeared in court, and the state brought up five witnesses,” she said
In mitigation, the convicts claimed to be first-time offenders and breadwinners for their families.
However, prosecutor Richard Kandeya asked the court for a harsher punishment, arguing that the offence was planned and serious in nature.
Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state and sentenced the convicts to 13 years imprisonment each.
He stated that their conduct put the lives of people and property in the area at risk, and hoped that this sentence would deter future offenders.
Synate Kachingwe comes from Njonja Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kachere, Dedza District. Chiwone Maganizo is from Mwenela Village, T/A Njewa, Lilongwe, while Mike Nkhoma comes from Chilota Village, T/A Njewa in Lilongwe District.
