Malawian couple in court for alleged theft using car master key
The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Court on Tuesday adjourned a case involving a couple being accused of causing malicious damage and theft.
The couple identified as Gilbert Felix Mikondo, 35, and Edna Kansekeni Mikondo, 34, caused malicious damage and stole property of Dr. Felix Lombe which is contrary to section 344 and 278 of the penal code respectively.
The court heard that on 24 June this year at around 9:00 am Lombe went to National Bank and left his car parked and locked. Inside it was 1 Lenovo laptop, a digital camera, a shaver, 2 Malawian passports and two vehicle blue books. The goods were valued at K300, 000.
Upon coming back from the bank, he found his car unlocked and all the items were missing, asking people who were around only to be told that they know nothing. Lombe reported the matter to police and investigations started right where he parked his car.
After some days Lombe started receiving anonymous calls from a person who introduced himself as “tall” and told him to meet to get his items. When agreed time elapsed the number was unreachable; he reported the matter again to police. As Lombe was trying to call back the number it was answered by Edna who disclosed to be the wife of Mikondo.
A call log was obtained at Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) it was discovered that the number was new and has been used only once. Further investigations led to the arrest of Edna who told police that she doesn’t know the whereabouts of her husband as she suspects he had gone to fetch Indian hemp as he illegally ply the business of selling the product.
Later Mikondo was found at Mchinji round about in his car registration number LL 152 and ran away upon seeing the police. One of his three friends who was with him in the car was apprehended, searched and was found with a master key which he disclosed it belonged to Mikondo, later Mikondo was also arrested. The couple denied the charges.
Lombe testified in the court that Mikondo at one time admitted that he was the one who was calling him to meet so that he should get his items, but later told him that they should not meet at his home in Mtsiliza as he was afraid that Lombe might bring police with him.
The couple hails from Traditional Authority Solijeni in Chikwawa and Traditional Authority Kayembe in Dowa district respectively. None of the stolen items was recovered. The case has since been adjourned to the 30th October 2012.
