By Ernest Mfunya

MANA-(MANGOCHI)-Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate Court on Friday convicted and sentenced Ishmael Saidi, 18, to six years imprisonment with hard labour upon being found guilty on four counts of theft.

State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Ezekiel Kalunga said the accused was charged with the offence of theft of a motorcycle, contrary to Section 282 (1), theft of bicycle contrary to Section 282 (b) and other two offences of theft contrary to Section 278 of the Penal Code.

The court learnt that Saidi stole a motorcycle worth K550, 000 at Chikundo Village in Mangochi on November 19, this year.

“The accused had also stolen one bicycle, three cell phones and one motorcycle on different occasions at Mtanga Village in Traditional Authority Chimwala in Mangochi,” Kalunga explained.

“He was apprehended by one complainant from whom the accused had stolen a cell phone, a Huawei P9, within Mtanga area,” Kalunga added.

Saidi pleaded guilty and admitted to the first charge of theft of motorcycle contrary to Section 282 (1) and denied the other charges.

This prompted the state to parade four witnesses who proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.

In submission, the state said Saidi was a first offender but asked the court to consider the gravity of the offences.

“Stealing a motorcycle and bicycle calls for 10 years imprisonment as no items were recovered,” Kalunga said, insisting that the court should give Saidi a stiffer penalty to deter other would-be offenders from committing similar offences.

In mitigation, Saidi asked for forgiveness and assured the court that he would never commit any such offence again.

He also asked for leniency on account that he is a student and lives with his grandmother and two young brothers who depend on him.

However, passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state’s plea for stiffer penalty, saying the accused had a well calculated move as he came from Machinga to commit a crime in Mangochi.

“We are trying to make peace in this district but people like you are coming in to pose threats and your age does not fit what you are doing,” Michongwe said, adding that Saidi deserved a custodial sentence.

He, therefore, sentenced Saidi to six years imprisonment with hard labour for the first and second counts, two years for the third and fourth counts.

Michongwe said the sentences would run concurrently starting from the day of arrest.

Saidi’s real home is Mteragosi Village, Niassa District in Mozambique but stays in Machinga.