LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe First Grade Magistrate’s court has sentenced 36-year-old Mphatso Mwale to three years in prison for stealing from Malawi Parliament’s cafeteria.
Mwale was on Thursday, June 18, 2020 found guilty on his own plea over a breaking into a building and committing felony charge, contrary to Section 311 of the Penal code.
The court, through State Prosecutor Sergeant Sautso Kamoto, heard that Mwale broke into Parliament’s cafe on May 16 2020 at around 20:00 hours.
According to Salome Zgambo, Lingadzi Police Station spokesperson said the court head that the suspect Mwale went away with assorted items which include 7 bags( 50 kgs each) of baking flour, 22 packets of sugar and 4 litres of cooking oil valued at over MK265 000.
The court futher leant that Mwale, an ex-worker at the facility who was fired over same a similar case, was detected through a CCTV camera.
Prosecutor Kamoto pleaded with the court to give the accused person a stiffer punishment since he was a previous offender.
In mitigation, Mwale cried for leniency, blaming the devil for influencing him to commit the crime again.
He further claimed he was a sole bread winner in his family hence a lighter sentence.
Passing judgement, First Grade Magistrate Chakaka Nyirenda concurred with the state, saying Mwale took advantage to steal because he was familiar with the facility.
Nyirenda therefore slapped Mwale with three years imprisonment with hard labour to deter would-be offenders.
The convict Mwale hails from Chasinga Village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Chulu in Kasungu District.