Ex-MDF soldier gets 10 years for robbery

Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court has sentenced former Malawi Defence Force soldier Precious Khonje, 30, to 10 years imprisonment following his conviction on two counts of robbery he and his accomplices committed at Airwing in Njewa in June last year.

State prosecutor Vincent Ntalawe told the court that on June 15 2022, Khonje and nine others who are at large, tied a security guard before breaking into two semi-detached houses at Airwing and stole two plasma television sets, mobile phones and cash, all valued at K1.6 million.

He further said that in an attempt to overpower the security guard who was resisting to surrender, the convict instructed his accomplices to crush the security guard’s private parts.

Khonje was caught the same night by community policing forum members who were on patrol while his accomplices bolted with the stolen property.

In court, he pleaded not guilty, but the State paraded six witnesses and proved its case.

During mitigation, he prayed for leniency, saying he was now reformed following his remand at Maula Prison.

But the State asked for a stiffer sentence, saying Khonje had intentionally planned the offences which subjected the victims to trauma.

Ntalawe further said the fact that all stolen items and money were not recovered means that all the victims lost everything.

Senior resident magistrate Shukran Kumbani agreed with the State that the offences Khonje committed were serious in nature.

He then pronounced a 10-year imprisonment for each count. The sentences will run concurrently.

Khonje comes from Namalita Village, Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba District.