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The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Mulanje on Monday sentenced a 23 year old man, Manuel Bakayawo, to 60 months imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for stealing motorcycles and other items.
Police prosecutor, Sub Inspector Glory Makondetsa told the court that between the night of July 7 to 8, 2020, criminals broke into the house of Martin Pikoko Kanyoza, a laboratory technician at Mulanje Mission Hospital and stole two Lifo motorcycles, a 32 – inch Samsung plasma television screen, Omega amplifier, laptop and a DVD player all costing over K1 million.
“Following the complaint, police initiated investigations and arrested Manuel Bakayawo in connection with the incident. During the arrest, police also recovered all the stolen items,” he said.
Appearing before Magistrate Shahida Hanif Bakili, Bakayawo pleaded guilty to the two charges of burglary and theft contrary to section 309 and 278 of the penal code respectively.
In submission, Makondetsa prayed for a stiff penalty saying although the items were recovered, the convict deprived the owner of his right to own property.
She added that many people choose to harvest where they did not sow hence the need for a stiff penalty to teach them to work.
Magistrate Bakili, therefore, sentenced Bakayawo to 60 months IHL for burglary and 30 months IHL for theft. Both sentences will run concurrently.
In 2018 the Second Grade Magistrate’s court in the district also sentenced Bakayawo to 24 months IHL for theft of motorcycle.
The convict comes from Godogo Village, in the area of Senior Chief Mabuka in Mulanje.
