The Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court sitting in Lilongwe has convicted and sentenced 30-year-old Tobias Nyirenda and 29-year-old Yobu Magaleta, to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for robbery.

Lingadzi Police Public Relations Officer, Salomy Zgambo, told the press that the two were convicted on their own plea of guilt.

Zgambo said Police Prosecutor Sub Inspector Christopher Nyirongo told the court that on April 8, 2023 the convicts, armed with pangas, robbed a liquor shop in Area 49 Gulliver and went away with assorted items worth over K1.5 million.

Zgambo said Nyirongo further told the court that one of the victims’ phone was located in Lilongwe’s Mgona area which led to the arrest of the suspects.

In mitigation, the convicts asked the court for leniency, saying that they have families that depend on them. They also reminded the court that they did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty, hence asking for a suspended sentence.

Passing judgement, Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe, sentenced the two to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour each to deter would-be offenders.

Source:Times