The Blantyre Magistrate’s Court on Friday sentenced three men to five years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a car belonging to Bilal Trust of Limbe.
The court heard that the three, Mussa Allan, Kamuloni Matola and Goodson Matola working at Madina Mosque, around 3 am on14th September 2015 connived and stole a Toyota Collora VVTI belonging to Bilal Trust of Limbe.
The vehicle was parked at the mosque premises by the Trust’s employee Salim Kangari.
After receiving reports that the vehicle was missing, Kangari and other well-wishers informed the police who immediately spread the news to their colleagues working on roadblocks.
The vehicle was recovered by police at Namadzi roadblock in Chiradzulu the same night and the three who were in the vehicle at that particular time were arrested at the same point.
Passing judgement, senior Resident Magistrate Thoko Mpalika said even though the maximum penalty for car theft is ten years, she gave them five years considering that they were first offenders and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Kamuloni and Goodson Matola hail from Mtambalika village in the area of Tradition Authority Mposa while Mussa Allan comes from Dauda Village in the Area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Liwonde in Machinga respectively.
In the course of hearing, the three mentioned Akimu Fikila as an accomplice and he is expected to appear in court for sentencing on Wednesday September 23. He pleaded not guilty.
