Court Acquits Four Security Guards Accused Of Theft By Servant

Mangochi First grade magistrate court has found four security guards no case to answer after being accused of theft by servant which is contrary to section 278 and 286 subsection 1 of Malawi penal code.

The four, have been identified as Joe Tipoti, Macford Chikwenga, Dinala Mankhokwe and Dickson Banda who were working for an Asian businessman Reddy Mohan Thammisetty in the district.

On 13^th January this year, police received a report of missing of 71 cartons of beer at Thammisetty warehouse where the four were working as security guards.

After following the report, police arrested the four for suspecting them that they were involved in the missing of the cartons and charged them with theft.

However, relatives to the detained guards, consulted the Legal Aid Bureau officials to assist them in hearing the case of the four.

The official accepted the request and it was handled by Senior Legal Aid Advocate Upile Mapata and Assistant Legal Aid Officer Maxwell Shaba who fought it hard and the four was released on bail.

When the court started hearing the case in January, the claimant did not no appear to present facts for judgment.

This month (May). When the case failed to hear from plaintiff’s side for three times, the sate prosecutors told the court that Reddy Mohan is abroad in United Kingdom that’s why he is failing to appear in court.

Meanwhile, after hearing the case in both sides, Second Grade Magistrate Baxter has discharged the case and set the four free from police custody.

–Legal Aid Bureau-