Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Shadreck Chimpeni, 20, for attacking and robbing people of their property around Lilongwe Bridge.
State prosecutor Florence Mlanje told the court that the man, who was chairperson for street-connected children, on September 16 2024 attacked two university students who were passing by Bwaila Hospital.
She said while brandishing a knife at the two, Chimpeni ordered them to voluntarily surrender their items to him or risk being stabbed.
“He robbed the students of their two laptop computers and a Samsung smartphone, all valued at K1.7 million,” said Mlanje.
In court Chimpeni pleaded not guilty, but the State paraded three witnesses and proved its case. In her submission, Mlanje prayed for a deterrent custodial sentence, citing the convict as a security threat and dangerous person to both Lilongwe City residents and visitors.
In his ruling, senior resident magistrate Bracious Kondowe agreed with the State, saying the offences Chimpeni committed were serious in nature.
He then pronounced a 15-year imprisonment sentence for Chimpeni to deter other would-be offenders.
During trial, the court learned that Chimpeni was a menace to visitors who used Lilongwe Bridge and other streets within old town.
He committed the crimes during daytime and many people were afraid to confront him until his arrest in September last year which came as a relief to residents and visitors.
Chimpeni comes from Bula Village, Traditional Authority Kwataine in Ntcheu District.
