The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court on April 18, 2024 convicted and sentenced Andrew Sawabu, 37, to Seven years imprisonment with hard labour for committing robbery while his three accomplices await trial.
During court proceedings, state prosecutor Inspector Shadreck Wisiki told the court that, Sawabu was once convicted in 2022 to 2-years for wounding a police officer while on duty.
On October 4, 2023 Sawabu and his six accomplices attacked Tadala Twaha, 29, who operates Mukuru money transactions at Mchocholo area while on her way from Mangochi Boma where she went to collect a sum of K2.8 million meant for business.
The assailants who were using a white Toyota Chasser registration number KA5891 sprayed some chemicals into Twaha’s eyes before they cruised away with the said cash which was in a hustle bag.
The matter was reported to police who initiated investigations which led to the arrest of four(including Sawabu) while the other three including the sister to victim are still at large.
It was revealed that the victim’s elder sister was the one who hired the team for the robbery. It was also established that the assailants hired the said motor vehicle and after the robbery they repainted to black and white in order to conceal the evidence without the owner’s consent.
In mitigation, the convict who was represented by Counsel Smart Khalifa changed his mind and pleaded guilty after full trial asked for court’s leniency citing that he looks after his family.
In his submission prosecutor Wisiki alluded that Sawabu’s behaviour of resistance to change is pathetic and cannot be tolerated in the society hence prayed for a custodial sentence.
Passing sentence Senior Resident Magistrate Muhammad Chande concurred with the state hence sentenced him to 7-years imprisonment with hard labour.
Meanwhile the three accused namely Saidi Haji, 25, Jimmy Nyengera, 31 and Ayami Kanamauta, 43, are still under court proceedings since they denied their charges.
Sawabu hails from Saiti Kadzuwa village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.
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