Blantyre baby thief gets 5 years

Nancy Lamulani, who stole a month-old baby at Zingwangwa Health Centre in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre on January 3, was on Friday sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour.

Lamulani, 33, from Mbayani Township in the city, on Thursday pleaded guilty to the charge of abducting a child before principal resident magistrate Innocent Nebi.

Making his ruling, Nebi said the court considered that Lamulani is a first offender and that she apologised to Bridget Taombe, the baby’s mother.

After the ruling, Taombe told Nation Online that she was not satisfied with the punishment.

“I thought she would spend 10 years in jail. Although this is not what I expected, I will not appeal the ruling,” said Taombe, who looked happy.

Southern Region Police public relations officer, Nicholas Gondwa, said Lamulani’s husband, Edward, who was released on bail on Thursday, will appear in court soon.

Gondwa said the husband pleaded not guilty to the offence; hence, he could not be sentenced together with his wife.