Ndata break-in police officers jailed

Three police officers, accused of breaking into former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika’s Casablanca Manor at Ndata Farm in Thyolo have been sentenced to 33 months imprisonment with hard labour (IHL).

The officers were arrested in August last year after they were caught with items stolen from the residence which they were guarding between July 19 and August 2 2014.

Luka Magodo, Mayeso Mwansambo and Chisomo Kaleso, all from Police Mobile Service (PMS) B Company in Limbe, were answering charges of burglary and theft.

Limbe police deputy spokesperson Pedzesai Zembeneko said yesterday Midima Court Second Grade Magistrate Loyce Chirwa found the three officers guilty and convicted them accordingly.

In mitigation, they pleaded for leniency saying they were breadwinners and, if given custodial sentence, their families would suffer.

“However, Chirwa said as police officers they were aware of the laws and by committing the offence they knew the consequences of their actions,” said Zembeneko.

He said the magistrate sentenced them to 24 months imprisonment on the first count of burglary and nine months for the second.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Among the items that were found on the three convicts include Laws of Malawi Volume 3, a set of Panasonic speakers, a sub woofer, six twitters, four speakers, a computer, nine wine tumblers and three suitcases. n