15 Judiciary computers stripped of motherboards
Three court marshals and systems analyst have been arrested following the stripping of motherboards for 15 computers in the Judiciary in Blantyre.
Judiciary spokesperson Mlenga Mvula and Blantyre Police spokesperson Elizabeth Divala confirmed the theft of the motherboards, but Mvula dismissed fears that vital information might have been tampered with.
Said Mvula: “These are the computers that were put in courtrooms whose purpose was for court reporters to be transcribing the court proceedings. Vital information is well documented in criminal or civil registries.”
He said the only problem will be that court reporters will now be manually transcribing proceedings which will be slow.
The theft is suspected to have taken place between January 12 2014 and February 4 2015 and 10 computers affected were at the High Court with the other five at the magistrate’s court.
According to Mvula, the Judiciary discovered that motherboards in apparently properly cased central processing units (CPUs) were missing from courts one and two. He said a thorough investigation revealed that more computers in other courtrooms were also affected.
The matter was reported to Blantyre Police Station on Thursday which led to the initial arrest of three court marshals—Elliot Mahewe, 52; Weston Muyiwa, 36; and Felistine Muzandiwandila, 35.
Mvula said the three were arrested because they were keeping keys to the courtrooms. They were charged with breaking into a building and committing felony therein which is contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code.
When the three appeared before senior resident magistrate Viva Nyimba on Friday, the court marshals were acquitted because they told the court that they did not have the technical knowledge on computers.
Mvula said system analyst Kumbukani Chiwoni, 29, was eventually arrested.
He said Nyimba ordered a search into Chiwoni’s house, but only cables were found.
From November last year to January this year, the courts were not working due to the strike by the Judiciary support staff who were demanding higher pay. They returned to work after it was agreed with government that they should be working while negotiations continue. n
