Man jailed for threatening police officer

Diphord Phiri of Nakhule Village, Sub-Traditional Authority (S-T/A) Mpunga in Chiradzulu has been sentenced to four years imprisonment with hard labour for intending to cause grievous harm to a police officer at Namitambo Police Unit in the district.

In his testimony in court, the officer, Sergeant Tepani, said Phiri attacked him in an effort to rescue Pilirani Harare from lawful arrest.

“On 23 April 2015, Mrs Nenenji Kagwa, a sister to Pilirani Harare, complained at our office that his brother was destroying property and causing trouble at her home. I arrested Pilirani who was already in the hands of some villagers,” said Tepani.

“As I was getting into the cells, a man emerged from a maize field with a panga and started chasing me, demanding that I set Pilirani free,” explained the officer.

Tepani said he fled to a nearby maize field where Phiri continued to follow him.

“I picked up a brick and hit him with it. He fell down but he got up and started chasing me again,” said Tepani.

Phiri was arrested after investigations. In court, he confessed that he attacked the officer because he wanted his friend to be released.

Passing judgement, First Grade Magistrate Annie Chikhazula said Phiri committed a serious offence as it would compromise the officer’s duties and could have killed the officer.

She proceeded to sentence him to 48 months imprisonment with hard labour.