Man jailed for stealing bibles

BY GIFT MATOLA CHIMULU
Chintheche First Grade Magistrate Court in NKhata Bay on 18 May 2015 sentenced 35-year-old Kennedy Banda to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing five Bibles, a charger for an amplifier and a microphone.
The court heard that Banda stole the items when he broke into Jehovah’s Witness’ information and resource centre at Chintheche on May 2.
Banda, who hails from Mfufu Village, T/A Malanda in Nkhata Bay, fled after the crime but was days later after he was sported at Chinsapo in Lilongwe.
Passing judgement, First Grade Magistrate Alexander Gomba said Banda’s case was not only unlawful but also inhuman.
“Stealing from the church is like directly insulting God,” said Gomba.
The case invited attracted a lot of attention as the court chamber was filled to capacity while others opted to follow the proceedings from the outside.
After the judgement was passed, chaos erupted outside as close relatives wept while Banda, who is a known jailbird in the area, cried out: “Just shoot me, I don’t want to go to jail again, I say kill me now!”