The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday convicted two men to six years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for breaking into a house belonging to Brandee Phiri and stealing electronic appliances and the family’s vehicle.
Central Region Police spokesperson John Namalenga identified the two convicts—Edward Banda (23) from Kapolo Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kyungu in Karonga and Maclean Mwalenga (21) from Chinani Village, T/A Chiwalo in Phalombe.
Namalenga said the court, sitting before senior resident magistrate Patrick Chilunga Chirwa, heard that on May 3 2012, the two convicts broke into the house of Phiri in Lilongwe’s Area 24.
He said the two attacked a security guard and then broke into the house where they found the lady sleeping at around 1am. Armed with pangas, they stole electronics and demanded car keys.
“They removed the car’s number plate and left it with the IT [in transit] number plate as if it had just entered the country,” said Namalenga.
In his ruling, Chirwa sentenced the two to six years IHL. The vehicle was recovered and given back to the owner.
Assuring the public of their security, Namalenga said: “This shows that police is still awake. We are around, arresting offenders and bringing them before the courts so that people should not live in fear.”
