The Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate Court has sentenced eight people to 19 years in prison for robbing a Chinese businessman of K30 million at a gunpoint.
According Central West Region Police spokesperso Sub Inspector Foster Benjamin, they killed him and his driver, a Chinese national too.
“On 16 May 2023, the court heard, the convicts were armed with an AK47 rifle and a toy gun when they invaded the premises of Mr Chen Xia at Njewa in the capital city.
“As the victim was entering his compound, he—along with his driver—was ambushed and shot at by the convicts. They went away with K30 million cash before their arrest,” he said
In their trial, Benjamin said the accused pleaded not guilty, prompting the State to parade five witnesses.
They were subsequently found guilty of robbery with violence.
State prosecutor Assistant Superintendent Saddrey Sambo of Central West Region Police prayed to the court to hand the eight long prison sentences.
He asked the court to consider how innocent lives were lost during the robbery.
The court, Sambo argued further, should be mindful that the slain foreigners were investors in the country and a blessing to Malawians who were working for them.
But in their mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency saying they were first-time offenders.
Passing sentence, Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe disregarded the mitigation saying the aggravating circumstances surrounding the case outweighed the mitigation factors raised.
Michongwe said the convicts were organized since they traveled from different parts of the country to commit the crime in Lilongwe.
He went on to convict and sentence the eight, who include a woman, to 19 years imprisonment with hard labour to deter potential offenders.
The convicts are Muhammad Jamali, 41, from Mangochi; Yamikani Alderico Petro, 42, from Dedza; Blessings James, 34, from Mangochi; Tailosi Mkwapatila, 47, from Machinga; Mussah Austin, 53, from Mangochi; Yusuf Adam, 40, from Mangochi; Precious Billiat, 31, (a lady) from Ntcheu; and Twaibu Kalinga, 53, from Zomba.
