Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday ordered Bembeke Ward councillor Davie Lingalawe (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) to pay a K100 000 fine or in default serve one and a half years imprisonment for tampering with Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) meters.
His accomplice Shandy Callisto was sentenced to five years imprisonment without the option of a fine, according to Dedza Police Station deputy spokesperson Cassim Manda.
The court heard that Escom officials established that Lingalawe had tampered with the meter on a pole that supplies electricity to his bottle store, shop and residence at Dedza Boma.
Both the councillor and the electrician pleaded guilty to the charges of interference with supplies of electricity.
The councillor apologised to the court for the offence and in mitigation, asked for leniency saying he is a family man, according to Manda.
He said first grade magistrate Ennete Banda said it was a disgrace for an elected duty-bearer like Lingalawe to break the law; hence, the fine.
Manda further said the court found that Callisto is a frequent offender as he had just been released from prison after serving a two-year sentence.
The councillor comes from Chigwamowa Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chakhumbira while Callisto comes from Senzani Village in T/A Phambala, both in Ntcheu District. n
