Ex-Convict Jailed for Burglary and Theft

Mangochi Second Grade Magistrate Court has on Tuesday made a ruling against 28-year-old ex-convict who was found guilty for burglary and theft charges.

Ibrah Stambuli appeared in court for breaking sections 278, 282(b) and 309 of the penal code respectively.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wonderful Lomoliwa told the court that on 17^th November last year, the accused stole a bicycle, one cellphone and K17, 000 cash belonging to Obvious Maganga at Masanga area in Namiyasi.  All was valued at K120, 000.

Also in January 2018, the accused stole a bag of rice worthy K36, 000 from a businessman at Namiyasi trading centre.

As if that was not enough for him, in February 2018, he broke into the house of Stonard Biziwick where he made away with an amplifier, Samsung Galaxy tab 3 and other items all worthy K170, 000.

Luckily, the owner of the house recognized him despite failing to catch him.

All complaints were reported at Koche Police Unit. After being on the run for quiet a long time, on March 16, 2018 the Police successfully apprehended the fugitive and recovered some of the items at Makawa Trading centre.

Appearing in court the accused pleaded guilty to the charge of Theft only and denied the rest of the charges laid against him hence the state paraded seven witnesses who testified against him.

In his submission before sentence Lomoliwa pleaded with the court to impose a custodial sentence since the accused person has a criminal record convicted of similar offences.

When passing judgement his worship second grade magistrate John Mpwahiwa expressed dismay over the accused person’s resistance to reformation.

He therefore sentenced him to 10 years for Burglary, 4 years for Theft of bicycle and 4 years imprisonment with hard for Theft and sentences to run concurrently.

Stambuli hails from Masanga village in the area of Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.