Balaka man jailed 3 years for stealing a bull
A 38-year-old man in Malawi’s eastern district of Balaka has been sentenced to 40 months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a bull.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Hunter Masamba told the Second Grade Magistrate court that the suspect Evance Fatsani stole the bull which belongs to Mrs Catherine Mwadzera on 6th August, this year at Kuthambo village in Balaka district.
“The suspect stole the bull worth K150, 000.00 from the heard boy at the grazing area and the issue was reported to Phalula Police Unit who arrested the suspect. Upon interview he revealed that he sold the bull to a businessman from Lunzu,” he said.
Fatsani pleaded guilty to the offence of theft of which led to his conviction.
Sergeant Masamba said people in the village depend on livestock and for someone to just come and steal it is a set back to the entire family.
Since the bull was not returned Masamba asked the court to give the suspect a stiff custodial sentence despite being a first offender
In his mitigation the convict asked for lenience saying that he stole the cattle because of poverty and that he had nothing to support his family.
Passing judgement, Second Grade Magistrate Maxwell Boaz said most families in the villages depend on livestock; and considering that the bull was not found, the owner has lost a lot of money which could benefit the family.
He therefore sentenced him to 40 months imprisonment with hard labour. He said he has given him such a sentence so that it should be a lesson to him and would be offenders.
Evance Fatsani comes from Govati village, Senior Chief Nsamala in the same district of Balaka.
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