Magistrate Viva Nyimba jails kidnapper 15 years: Wanted to sell man at Amitofo

Blantyre Magistrates Court has convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour one of the two men who kidnapped a 33-year-old man and attempted to sell him at K5 million (approximately US$8,772).

The two suspects namely Nowa Madson, 20, and Maxwell Mitawa, 23, kidnapped Patrick Julio and on Tuesday tried to sell him to Amitofo Care Centre in Limbe in the commercial city of Blantyre –  a Chinese-run orphanage.

According to police, the two lied to the victim that they have found a job for him at Amitofo Care Centre where he would be paid K20, 000.00 (about US$32.25) monthly but he was surprised to discover that he was taken there to be sold.

And Senior Resident Magistrate, Viva Nyimba on Thursday convicted and jailed Nowa Madson after he pleaded guilty to the offence of kidnapping.

Surprisingly, Madson’s accomplice, Mitawa pleaded not guilty and will go to trial next week.

The two were charged with Kidnapping contrary to Section 263 of the Penal Code.

In mitigation, Madson pleaded for leniency, claiming he was first offender but the Magistrate rebuffed the plea and slapped him with a 15-year jail term.

Madson and Mitawa had planned to sell Julio at K5, 000,000.00. Police managed to rescue him after being tipped by the Amitofo personnel.

Madson hails from Solomoni village, T/A Mlolo in Nsanje while Mitawa comes from Biliati village, T/A Makwangwala in Ntcheu district.