Cook Jailed Nine Years for Stealing Cash, Phones from 80-Year-Old Employer in Limbe

The Darton Magistrates’ Court in Limbe, Blantyre, has sentenced Timothy Tumeo Nsanjama, 28, to nine years in prison with hard labour for the crime of theft by a servant.

Magistrate Chiyembeko Phiri handed down the sentence after the prosecution, led by Jessie Maombe of Limbe Police, told the court that Nsanjama was employed as a cook and housekeeper at the home of an 80-year-old man in Mapanga, Limbe.

According to Limbe Police Deputy Spokesperson Demetria Banda, on January 30 this year the complainant went to Limbe town and, upon returning home, discovered that Nsanjama was not there. After inspecting the house, the complainant realized that K500,000 in cash, meant for workers’ salaries, and two Samsung mobile phones valued at K600,000 each were missing.

The complainant, together with his security guard, followed Nsanjama to his village in Masuku, Chiradzulu District, under Traditional Authority Kaduwele. Upon seeing them, Nsanjama fled.

Following a police search operation conducted with the help of community members, Nsanjama was later arrested at his village.

During police questioning, Nsanjama confessed to the crime. He told officers that a friend who worked as a security guard forced him to hand over the stolen goods. The friend allegedly gave him one mobile phone and K150,000.

Nsanjama pleaded for leniency, saying he had a child and was taking care of his grandmother. However, the magistrate rejected the plea, noting that Nsanjama had already used part of the stolen money to buy land and pay for his child’s school fees.

According to the law, Nsanjama was found guilty of violating Section 286(1) of the Penal Code.