Court convicts parents for obscene graffiti against teachers

The Balaka Second Grade Magistrate Court in eastern Malawi has ordered two people to pay fine of K11, 500 each for writing obscene words in class rooms.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Anthony Mtambo told the court that the suspects Monica Tanthe 24 and Moses Chikalogwe 19 have for the past months at Sawali Primary School been writing obscene words in class rooms.

“The suspects were targeting teachers and they were even posting some obscene letters on the trees around the school. They been doing this for a long time and at a certain time they appeared before the school committee but never changed until last week when they were arrested upon a fresh complaint,” said Mtambo.

The suspects pleaded guilty to the charge of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace which is contrary to section 181 of the penal code which led to their conviction.

In his submission before sentence, sergeant Mtambo asked the court to consider giving the suspects a stiffer sentence considering that their conduct affected the teachers and the pupils at the school.

“If the suspects had grudges with the teachers, they could have lodged a complaint with school committee or even with district education manager’s office”.

He therefore asked the court to consider giving them a stiffer sentence so that it should be a lesson to them and would be offenders.

In their mitigation, Monica Tanthe asked the court for forgiveness saying that she has three kids to look after while Moses pleaded for leniency for he is a first offender and looks after his aged grandparents.

Passing judgment, Second Grade Magistrate Victor Sibu said teachers deserve respect and wondered as to how the pupils would respect their teachers if parents are in the forefront insulting them.

He therefore ordered them to pay a fine of K11, 500.00 each or default serves 3 months imprisonment with hard labour.

Magistrate Sibu said he has given them such a sentence so that it should be a lesson to them and would be offenders. The two have since paid the fines.

Both suspects Monica Tanthe and Moses Chikalogwe come from Sawali village, Traditional Authority Sawali in the same district of Balaka.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :