Man Jailed 5 Years for Motorcycle Theft in Machinga
Published on November 20, 2025 at 1:23 PM by Evance Kapito
The Second Grade Magistrate’s Court in Machinga has sentenced 28-year-old Siginala Panandi to five years imprisonment with hard labour after convicting him of motorcycle theft.
According to State Prosecutor Sergeant Alex Macheso of Nselema Police Post, on 2 November 2025, Panandi deceived the complainant’s son into lending him a red Lifo motorcycle valued at K250,000, claiming he needed it to buy sweet potatoes. The motorcycle, used by the son to travel to Mkwakwata Trading Centre for fish and water, was never returned.
Following a tip-off, police arrested Panandi on 6 November 2025 at Nayuchi, where he was found with the stolen motorcycle after it had run out of fuel.
Panandi pleaded guilty when he appeared before Magistrate John Kamphani on 19 November, but the court ruled that the serious nature of the offence warranted a strict sentence.
Sergeant Western Kansire, Public Relations Officer for Machinga Police Station, confirmed the ruling and noted that Panandi, a first-time offender from Mang’ani Village under Traditional Authority Mtumbwinda, had shown little regard for his elderly parents who depend on him.
