The Senior Resident Magistrate court in Nkhata Bay District has convicted and sentenced a 29-year-old man to Eight years imprisonment with hard labour for burglary and theft.

State prosecutor sergeant Dora Mhango, identified the convict as Thomas Banda

Sergeant Mhango told the court that during the night of February 10, 2023 Banda broke into a house belonging to Sara Mwandira at St. Maria Gollet in the district and went away with assorted household items worth K600, 000.

The matter was reported to Nkhata Bay Police Station where investigations were launched leading to the arrest of the suspect on February 17, 2023. He was charged with burglary and theft.

Thomas denied the charges leveled against him the development that prompted the state to parade three witnesses whose evidence proved the matter beyond reasonable doubt.

During subsequent proceedings, the court found the suspect guilty and eventually convicted him.

In submission, the state prosecutor Mhango prayed for stiffer sentence saying the act displayed by the convict was dangerous and caused great fear to the victim. Mhango said the sentence should teach the convict and other would be offenders a lesson.

In mitigation, the convict told the court that he looks after his grandmother hence prayed for leniency.

But passing sentence, Magistrate Mateo Fatsani Chitha quashed the mitigating factors and concurred with the state.

Chitha finally sentenced Banda to 8 years imprisonment with hard labour for burglary and Two (2) years  for theft. The magistrate said the sentences will run concurrently.

Thomas Banda hails from Japi Village in Traditional Authority Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay District.