By Staff Writer:
The Senior Resident Magistrate Court sitting in Lilongwe on Monday, September 19, 2022 convicted and sentenced two people, Davie Mthiko and Alid Mussa both aged 41, to 15 years and 8 years imprisonment with hard labour respectively for robbery.
Lingadzi Police Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Salomy Zgambo, the court heard through police prosecutor Sergeant Moses Stephano that on April 14 2022 the duo attacked Martha Lupenga at Area 14 T-Junction where she was waiting for a lift. Stephano said one of the suspects grabbed the victim by the neck and dragged her to the roadside bush where they robbed her of a cellphone and a handbag.
“The duo were convicted on their on plea of guilty. In submission, the state pleaded for a stiff punishment saying the first accused person is answering similar charges on cases he committed in different occasions. Stephano added that giving them immediate custodial sentence will deter other would-be-offenders.
“In mitigation, the convicts pleaded for leniency saying they have families obligations such that giving them custodial sentence will ruin lives of many dependants,” she said
Passing judgement, Magistrate Shukran Kumbani quashed the mitigating factors and instead, concurred with the state that a custodial sentence would be ideal for them. Magistrate Kumbani then sentenced Mthiko to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour saying he is becoming notorious. The magistrate further sentenced Mussa to 8 years imprisonment with hard labour for being the first offender.
Mthiko, 41 years, hails from Mthiko Village in Traditional Authority Wimbe in Kasungu while Mussa hails from Lulanga Village in Traditional Authority Makanjira in Mangochi.
