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Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday sentenced two armed robbers to one year Imprisonment with Hard Labour for escaping from court during proceedings.
The two, Lemani Hara and Steven Chimera, were found guilty of escaping from lawful custody.
Deputy Public Relations Officer for Lilongwe Police, Foster Benjamin, told ManaOnline that the two were answering two cases of robbery in which they are being accused of attacking and robbing a British national at Area 43, and a Malawian.
He said the court, through State Prosecutor, Superitendent Patrick Chambuluka, heard that when Chief Resident Magistrate Violet Chipao pronounced that the two had cases to answer, the two jumped out of the dock and bolted separately.
He said police and court marshals were forced to mount a chase, re-arresting Hara 3 kilometers away inside Lilongwe Golf Club and Chimera at Area 9.
During their trial, the two admitted to escaping from lawful custody, contrary to Section 115 of the Penal code.
In their mitigations, both cited family obligations and begged for leniency.
However, Chambuluka prayed to the court to hand down meaningful sentences considering that the two were a danger to society.
In his determination, Principal Resident Magistrate Viva Nyimba concurred with the state submission.
He argued the two could not have escaped while their cases were incomplete since they didn’t know what the verdict could be.
Nyimba convicted and slapped the two each with one year imprisonment with hard labour to act as a deterrance to others.
The one year jail term is for bolting from court while the robbery charges still stand according to Benjamin.
Hara, 37, comes from Chisaliro village, Traditional Authority ( T/A) Khombeza in Salima District while Chimera, 45, hails from Waliyala Village, T/A Mulumbe in Zomba District.
