Man, 27, jailed for breaking into mosque and stealing 

The Nanyumbu Second Grade Magistrate court in Machinga has sentenced a 27-year-old man to 40 months Imprisonment with Hard Labor for breaking into a mosque.

The man was identified as Imran Austin.

State prosecutor Constable Gift Kalamula of Nselema Police Station told the court that on October 23 this year, Austin broke and entered into the mosque and stole several items that including two carpets.

“When the chairperson of the mosque came to report the matter to police, we had already arrested the suspect for being found in possession of properties suspected to have been stolen,” Kalamula said.

He added that the chairperson positively identified the stolen items as belonging to the mosque.

The accused pleaded guilty before court to the charge and asked for leniency in his sentencing.

But the state prosecutor told court that the accused and perennial criminal and previously served two custodial sentences for stealing.

“The suspect served 30 months IHL in 2013 for stealing a bicycle and he also served 24 months IHL in 2015 for another theft of a bicycle” Kalamula said.

The prosecutor, therefore, asked the court to give the convict a meaningful sentenced that would make him change his behavior.

In passing the sentence, Second Magistrate Maxwell Boazi concurred with the state.

Imran Austin comes from Mongola Village, Traditional Authority Nyambi in Machinga district.