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The Senior Resident Magistrate court in Lilongwe has on Monday convicted three men for vandalizing four Spans, High Voltage oak line of 1200 metres long, of 100 millimeters each, worth K22.2 million belonging to Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).
The convicts have been identified as Michael Kambalame, 26, Umali Rashid, 35, both Area 36 residents and Chikafa Dzuwa, 41, a Chinsapo location resident.
The court heard through Lilongwe Police Prosecutor Sub Inspector Vincent Ntalawe that the convicts were apprehended by Dzalanyama Forest Reserve rangers in the wee hours of August 16, 2023 while on their motorcycles, each carrying rolls of the said wires.
A visit to the scene by Lilongwe Police detectives, accompanied by Escom officials, established that four spans covering a distance of 1.2 kilometers was vandalized.
Ntalawe further said that Lilongwe Police Station impounded the three motorcycles that were used in the transportation of the wires, and also seized the power cables.
In court, the convicts pleaded guilty to the charge of Vandalism of Escom apparatus according to section 45, as read with section 46 of the Electricity Act.
In their own admission, the convicts told police that they use the wires to make welding machines.
Meanwhile, the sentencing by Senior Resident Magistrate Shukran Kumbani is scheduled for August 25, 2023.
Michael Kambalame hails from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwambo, Zomba, Umali Rashid comes from Kuntawanga Village, T/A Tambala, Dedza, whilst Chikafa Dzuwa is from Chinsalo Village, T/A Kalolo in Lilongwe District.
