Man in court for damaging APM portrait

A 37-year-old man identified as Aaron Mbengo from Samilani Village in Traditional Authority’s Chilipa area in Balaka is appearing before a court of law for destroying a portrait of President Peter Mutharika at Limbe Police Station.

Mbengo, who appeared before the Midima Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, pleaded guilty to the charge of malicious damage which is contrary to Section 344 of the Penal Code.

Reading out Mbengo’s charge in court, presiding magistrate Watson Mankhanamba stated that Mbengo was being accused of “willfully and unlawfully destroying the portrait of the President, a property of Malawi Government, on January 13 this year.”

Mbengo admitted destroying the portrait, saying he felt the President is doing nothing to instill positive change in the country.

“I have been suffering since Joyce Banda’s administration and I was expecting that the next president who would change the situation but I have been reading on the internet that things are just getting worse. I am still suffering,” Mbengo told the court.

After hearing Mbengo’s argument, Mankhanamba decided to pend the case and ordered that the accused be examined by a mental hospital to assess his sanity before the case continues.

“The results from the mental hospital should be brought to this court but as it is now, the court cannot proceed with its judgment,” he said.

Limbe Police spokesperson Pedzisai Zembeneko said Mbengo, on January 13 around 1pm went to Limbe Police Station where he pulled down the president’s portrait and headed out with it.

“When he got outside, he started destroying the portrait without anybody noticing as police officers who were around were busy attending to other cases.

“When he was seen destroying the State president’s portrait, he was immediately arrested,” said Zembeneko. n