The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Mzuzu has set free Rashid Mfaume, who was arrested on suspicion of theft of mobile phones in January 2021. At that time, he was suspected of having stolen cellphones that were put on charge in a barbershop.

The incident occurred in Mzuzu and the phones were being charged in Zea Maize barbershop. Mfaume sought legal aid and when granted, he was represented in Court by Chief Legal Aid Advocate Chikondi Samuel Duke with assistance from Legal Aid Officer Alexander Kondowe.

In Court, the State paraded four witnesses to prove that Mfaume indeed stole the said mobile phones. The evidence of the State was accusing the Mfaume of having stolen phones that were put on charge by customers. This was on the basis that he was found in the barbershop at the time the owner realized that the phones were nowhere to be seen.

When he was found with a case to answer, he entered his defence through Counsel Duke and paraded two witnesses. Mfaume denied having played a hand in the missing of the phones.

The defense emphasized that the State did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt because there was no evidence to show that the accused person had stolen the phones. Being found in the barbershop was not evidence enough to warrant a conviction.

On 30 January 2025, the Senior Resident Magistrate Court found that there was a lack of proper evidence to show that it was Mfaume who had taken the phones. He has since been acquitted after four years.