Court Slapped 3 Years Imprisonment for Theft and Assault in Thyolo
Published on July 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM by Evance Kapito
Mphatso Mateyu, a resident of Changata Village under Traditional Authority Changata in Thyolo District, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of theft and assault.
According to Thyolo Police spokesperson Amos Banda, the state prosecutor Constable Jailos Phiri told the Thyolo First Grade Magistrate Court that Mateyu committed the offence on April 25, 2025, when he stole a 50-kilogram bag of maize from Mr. Ajson Nyozani and physically assaulted him during the act.
Banda added that the victim was able to identify Mateyu, which led him to report the matter to police, resulting in the suspect’s arrest.
During court proceedings, Mateyu pleaded not guilty, prompting the court to summon witnesses, who confirmed the allegations.
In his submission, Constable Phiri asked the court to impose a stiff sentence, citing the rising cases of similar offences in the area.
In his ruling, Magistrate Kondani Chinangwa agreed with the state and sentenced Mateyu to three years imprisonment, saying such conduct needed to be strongly discouraged to maintain order in the community.
