Court slaps thieving police officer with 8 years jail term

Malawi  police constable in Ntcheu who narrowly escaped mob justice after he was caught breaking into a shop in the district has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment with hard labour.

Criminal cop: Constable Ralph Banda (centre) among jailed robbers

People caught Ralph Banda and two of his accomplices Zakalia Wyson, 24, and Chipiliro Wandafo, 25, who were both in police uniform,  trying to break a shop of Finias Duwe at Bwese Village in area of Traditional Authority Phambala with an intention to commit burglary on the night of March 7, 2017.

Prosecutor, Inspector Evance Kamtukure told the court: “The owner of the shop heard a knock at the door of his shop and when he went to attend to the visitors, he found two men who were in police uniform and they introduced themselves as police officers who were sent to search for Indian hemp (Chamba) in the shop. However, Duwe was surprised   seeing the men armed with dangerous weapons such as an axe and a panga knife.”

He further said community members arrested two suspects while one of them escaped but he was arrested a few days later by the law enforcers.

“These people have been destroying the reputation of police personnel in Ntcheu as well as in the country as a whole, therefore it is my pleasure to ask the court to punish stiffly to serve as a lesson to other would be offenders,” he added.

Magistrate Chrispine Sachuluka said Banda needed to be out from the public for such a long time because he had disgraced the noble job of the police.

“He has dented the good image of the police especially that he decided to commit the offence in uniform,” said the magistrate.

He said being in uniform at 2 am doing a robbery showed he planned the crime well advance therefore he was a menace to the public.

This means Banda will now serve the jail term along with criminals he arrested in the course of his eight year career as a policeman.

Just before he was locked in a cell, he pleaded with the court to be lenient with him saying he looked after 15 orphaned children to which the magistrate said if he knew he was responsible he could not have committed the crime.

Constable Raphael Banda hails from Kalawe Village, Traditional Authority Sitola in Machinga District while Zakalia Wyson is from Ben-Chinsewu Village, Senior Chief Kwataine and Chipiliro Wandafo comes from Bwese Village Traditional Authority Phambala in Ntcheu district

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Alhomwe Alhomwe
Alhomwe Alhomwe
6 years ago

The police image has been gravely dented. The traffic police have stooped so low. There are many bad apples in that department. They can be bought so cheaply. They even accept MK200 from minibus drivers who commit traffic offences. I have witnessed this with my own eyes on the roads of Lilongwe.

ellias
ellias
6 years ago

Many police officers amapanga ma deal ndi akuba…………no wonder umbava sukutha.

D Kazembe
6 years ago

Mmmm Ndiwathayiming’i. We R Searching For Indian Chamba. Apolice Always Kuba. Pamseu Kuba

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