Seven convicted for vandalising police

Chikwawa First Grade Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sentenced seven people to between 10 months and five years imprisonment for vandalising Nsanje Police and Prison premises on January 18 this year.

The angry mob was demanding the release of a suspect who had allegedly killed their relation, so they could deal with him.

The convicts comprise three men and four women.They have been identified as Thoko Ronald, Robert Simenti, Gracian Tembo, Eliza Simbi, Mercy Thukuso, Grace Namondwe and Beatrice Chikopa.

Southern Region Police prosecutor Dickens Mwambazi told the court that the convicts  rioted both at police and prison premises on January 18  and damaged property valued at K8 million.

They pleaded not guilty and the State paraded witnesses to prove its case, leading to their conviction.

Passing the sentence, magistrate Gladstone Chirundu bemoaned the tendency of vandalising security establishments, saying it was unwelcome in the modern-day  society.

Ronaldwas given five years for arson, 10 months each for two counts of malicious damage and 10 months for inciting violence.

Tembo got 10 months for unlawful assembly and three years for malicious damage while Simenti was handed three years for malicious damage.

Chirundu sentenced Namondwe and Chikopa to 10 months and two years each for unlawful assembly and malicious damage, respectively.

Thukuso was found guilty on four counts and was given three years for inciting violence, unlawful assembly, and two counts of malicious damage.

Chirundu sentenced Simbi to 10 months imprisonment for malicious damage and unlawful assembly.

Their sentences will run concurrently.