Malawi College of Medicine student gets 3 years jail for class breaking, theft
A third-year Malawi College of Medicine student has abruptly cut short his medicine studies after a court sentenced him to three years in jail with hard labour for breaking into his own library and stealing two sets of computers.
Public Relations Officer for Blantyre police Augustine Nkhwazi said the Blantyre First Grade magistrate sentenced Mtendere Gwanda on Tuesday.
Nkhwazi said Mtendere broke into the information, communication, technology (ICT) library at the College of Medicine on August 31 and stole two sets of HP computers and one central processing unit (CPU).
“This happened while students were preparing to go for holidays. Management discovered that Mtendere Gwanda broke into the library after all the students had gone on holiday,” said Nkhwazi.
He said the authorities at the college found out that it was Mtendere who stole the items through a cctv footage.
The police publicist said the management did not inform him about the issue when he was on holiday and waited for him until he came back to the campus after the holiday.
“After he was shown the cctv footage, Mtendere confessed to have broken into the library and stole the computers. The management ten called the police,” said Nkhwazi.
In mitigation, Mtendere said he was forced to steal because he had impregnated a fellow college student who needed help.
Passing judgement, First Grade Magistrate Tsoka Banda said Mtendere needed a severe punishment to deter other would be offenders.
Mtendere, 23, hails from Malonje village in chief Malemia’s area in Zomba.
Facts of the case are all bare here: He confessed to his act of theft because he (in his thoughts) needed some money to help with a pregnancy. His lapse of moral judgement to help a situation should not be grounds for leniency. What should be grounds for leniency is the fact he admitted and confessed to his acts as reported here. Is he a first time offender? Has he at any other time displayed acts of moral incompetencies? What good does the society benefit by putting him away in hopes that he will reform? 3 years behind bars to… Read more »
Too harsh for him. They would consider that he is a student. Fine would be fair punishment for him.
Chaponda, Karim mbava inaba ndalama there are not in jail koma mwana uyu mukumuyipila mtima. Just shows kuti our justice sytem is very colonial. Why cant you book him for a rehabilitation session. Kumuphela tsogolo za ziii.
Very sad story I cant imagine how the Devil can rob one his/her God given opportunity or gift in life. Somebody studying Medicine in Malawi? It’s not ordinary its something special BUT look what has happened I wish there could be an alternative punishment for him to complete his studies BUT now with criminal record hanging on his head the future looks groomy.
Six Months would be better for this young man. As a parent who has gone through a lot, I greatly feel sorry for the parents who have been working tirelessly for this boy’s education. Authorities! please help this boy get out jail. Am sure he has learnt a bitter lesson. Anawa inu amadzaiwala msanga komwe achoka, please, please, forgive him. I rest my case, Concerned Mother of two.
true
He must rot in jail for criminal acts he has denied other people to access quality education
The punishment is indeed too harsh for this young, please revisit the issue.
the punishment is too harsh, mr/ms magistrate
Please forgive the youngman.
Osadanda man you will come back.chachikulu ndikuchepetsa kubako,or kusiya , Aliyese ndi wakuba koma kusagwidwa enafe nde sitinganene timapulumukira mulungu odziwa kuteteza koma chinyengo nde mchosayamba.mulungu akutetezere.
kkk Bwana Charie, mwalakhula mwazeru kwambiri. Dzikomo
This is very harsh