Man gets 23-years jail term for theft

July 13, 2015 Nyasa Times Reporter 25 Comments

A 22-year-old man in Malawi’s eastern district of Balaka is to spend 23-years of his life behind bars after the Balaka Magistrate court convicted for house breaking and theft.

Balaka Police Station Prosecution Officer Inspector Isaac Mponela told the court that the suspect John Bunaya broke into the house of Mrs Gloria Mphwiyo on March 28 and stole a mountain bike and two bags of maize valued to K43, 000.

“The suspect also during day time broke into the house of Mrs Ruth Marley at Majiga location, and stole the radio, and assorted clothes,” says Mponela.

Mponela said the same suspect also on 13th April, 2015 during day time at Majiga location, broke into the house of Rachel Jiya and stole a laptop computer, mattress, cooking oil and sugar valued to K320, 000.

He went on to inform the court that Bunaya on May 10, 2015 also broke into the house of William Munthali of Balaka Admarc during day time and stole a digital camera, Nokia Asha cellphone and some groceries all to the total value of K72, 000.

“And on 13th May, 2015 Bunaya again during day time at Majiga location, broke into the house of Mr Daniel Pondani and stole a DVD player, 2 LG speakers, cooking oil and 2 cell phones all valued to K100, 000.00,” said Mponela.

Bunaya pleaded guilty to all the five counts of house breaking and theft.

In their submission State Prosecutors Inspector Isaac Mponela, Sub Inspector Getrude Chingolo Kafumbula and Sergeant Anthony Mtambo asked the court to consider giving the suspect stiffer sentences saying that the suspect is a threat to the society.

They said the suspect is a notorious criminal considering the series of breaking offences he has committed. They said house breaking and theft is a serious offence which is punishable with death or life imprisonment and therefore asked the court to give the suspect a custodial sentence considering that some of the goods which he stole have not been recovered.

In his mitigation, the suspect John Bunaya asked for leniency when passing sentence saying that he is still young, a bread winner for his family and that he looks after his aged parents.

Passing judgment on separate occasions Victor Sibu and Maxwell Boaz concurred with the state that John Bunaya is a threat to the society and deserves a stiffer sentence so that it should be a lesson to him and would-be offenders.

John Bunaya comes from Kandengwe village, Traditional Authority Msamala in the same district of Balaka.

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25 replies on “Man gets 23-years jail term for theft”

  1. I thought Magistrates are lower courts. How come magistrates give stiffer punishment than High Courts? Cashgate suspects when found guilty need to be given stiffer punishment because it involves public money and also considering that the stolen public funds could have helped people who are losing their lives in Hospitals due inadequate resources . Parliament should pass a bill that anyone found stealing public funds should be sentence to death. With this approach , Malawians will have fear . It should also apply to private sector. Mu Private sector ma Accountant ndi ti ma manager tikusaukitsa ma investors.

  2. Anthu akumwera adakalibe ndikuba kwa armed robbery zothyola nyumba zachikalekale.Intelligent people steal in a smart way.Achita bwino kumanga zaka 23.

  7. chrungamu mu Malawi. A cashgate kuba MK63 million plus koma 3 years jail! Muthu uyu kuba 43, 000 jail 23 years. Judiciary mzikhala ndi mulingo wachilungamo.

  9. Next time anthu ngati awa ndi to kill to shoot koz macourt-wa dubious popereka zilango

  10. i think Sharia would be appropriate for this fella. On the other hand, why 23 years when cashgaters get less than 10 years. I think we need different court systems, parliaments, one for the poor and the other for the rich. Oh I forgot, we need a police service for the poor too.

  11. Zaka zimenezi mukanamupatsa Treza Namathanga,Lutepo and other cashgate thieves.People stole billions and u giving them 3 yrs is there any sense here?Tikumva kuti ena akulandira ma packed meal on daily service and prison warders have become very fat from these meals.You wonder are they really in prison or on some vacation?

  13. This is a good panishment, I think this person who passed the sentence is not the man/woma to play with.S/he knows the Job,lets try to involve him in cashgate cases, s/he can give 75yrs to notorious thieves and 150yrs to cashgate bosses.

  14. The justice system in Malawi is a joke. If this man is given 23 years in prison, what can the cashgaters expect? Presumably they will go down for life. Oh, sorry, there is one rule for some and another rule for the big cheeses. They get a slap on the wrist – when they are brought to justice. Don’t expect the cashgaters to be up before a judge any time soon. Cashgate will drag on and on and on until people forget about it and then it will be kicked into the long grass and forgotten.

  15. Magistrate ameneyu akumane with makape onse a cashgate awanyetse agalu, anamachende, mfiti, mbuzi za anthu…… etc

  17. Malamulo apa Malawi kkkk. ofunika onse a cashgate avaye ku Balaka,Salima ndi ku Chitipa.MA GUYZ awa sawumira popeleka zaka.

  20. Cash gate convicts are getting 3 years, 7 years…why is he getting 23? What kind of justice system is this?

  21. Things are not adding up here. We are happy with the sentence but why do the same courts differ in melting sentences. Remember someone stole 100million plus and was sentenced to nine years and this one less than 500thousand you say 23 years. Do you just dream or what? Balaka man deserves hanging because we cant afford to feed him for the next 23 years

  23. Koma ma cashgate convict nkuwapatsa zaka 5 zokha basi.
    Kodi anthu akamati malamulo amenewa ndi a anthu osauka amanama?

  25. Yes, he is a criminal but not an armed robber who go to kill and steal in broad daylight. Armed robbers get less than 10 years jail sentences, a complete joke.

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