A 30-year-old Mozambican national has been sentenced to serve a jail term of 7 years with hard labour after he was found guilty for an offence of theft by servant.
Public Relations Officer for Blantyre Police Station, Sub – Inspector Augustus Nkhwazi identified the convict as Ganizani Jonas who at the time of committing the offence was a gardener at the resident of Mr. Henry Duncan Phoya in Sunnyside, Blantyre.
Police prosecutor Sub-Inspector Justice Manolo told Blantyre Chief Magistrate Court on Tuesday that the incident happened in November last year.
“Among the stolen properties included 8 new Mercedes Benz motor vehicle rims, 4 new Mercedes Benz rims with tyres, 4 garden chairs, one wooden bed and several gardening and motor vehicle parts valued at MK 3,500,000.00.”,the prosecutor revealed to the court.
The prosecutor said after the theft, police launched an investigation that led to the arrest of Jonas on February 24, 2018.
Upon being found guilty in court, Prosecutor Manolo asked the court to pass him a stiffer punishment stating that the offence Jonas committed was felony and it attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years IHL.
He also added that such offences have become rampant in Blantyre and also the country at large hence a stiff punishment would serve as deter to other would be offenders.
Passing the judgment, his Worship the Senior Resident Magistrate Viva Nyimba concurred with the state prosecutor and slapped Jonas with a sentence of 7 years Imprisonment with Hard Labour.
Jonas hails from Mandala village traditional authority (TA) Dulani in Mangwe district Mozambique
