Malawi soldier, prison warder jailed 15 years for robbery: Chamba peddlers caged

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier, a Malawi Prison Service (MPS) warder and two others have been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment  for a series of robberies in the  capital, Lilongwe and surrounding areas.

The soldier Noel Kabango (35), working at the Support Battalion and the gang members were  arrested following a robbery at Chipiku shop in Nkhoma where over K3 million  was stolen last month when they were armed with a rifle from the MDF containing 19 rounds of ammunition.

The soldier and his three accomplices  Jafali Bashiri (20), Mixon Banda (36) and Lyton Magombo (25),  pleaded guilty to taking part in a robbery on August 26 this year and hacked shop manager.

Malawi soldiers have previously appealed for an increase in their salaries, said to be meagre.

But Principal resident magistrate Patrick Chirwa said a soldier and prison officer should have been the last people to engage in crimes considering that they were entrusted with the security of the country.

“Yet, here we have them at the forefront using the skills and training they were entrusted with to terrorise their own beneficiaries. It is a very upsetting situation. For these reasons, I do not think a non-custodial sentence could serve the purpose in sentencing them.

“It is better for them to nurse their remorse while serving a long custodial sentence than for them to be let loose within the shortest period of time when the potential of them regrouping for further crimes is still in sight.”

Chirwa said the offenders deserved more than the recommended 10 years imprisonment because they did not just brandish a dangerous weapon, but they used it to inflict three painful scars on a helpless victim.

Elsewhere

In Dowa, first grade magistrate court has convicted and sentenced Weluzani Singade (35- years) and Kwame Banda (21-years) to 30 and 20 months imprisonment with had labour (IHL) respectively without the option of fine,  for being found in possetion of Indian hemp.

The two convicts comited the offences on different days.

But they were all busted on a road block.

The first case was prosecuted by constable Regina  Kumwenda and the second case was prosecuted by sergeant Triza Kalonjele.

The two prosecutors told the court to give stiffer sentences to deter other would be offenders.

The fisrt grade magistrate Amulan Phiri agreed with the prosecutors for a stiff sentences.

He therefore sentenced them to 30 and 20 months repectively without the option of fine.

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