Man sentenced to 2-years jail for stealing K1m motor vehicle spares
A 25-year-old man, Daniel Nyanja from Pensulo village, Traditional Authority Kuntaja in Blantyre will have to spend two years in jail after the Blantyre Magistrate Court found him guilty of stealing motor vehicle spares worth over K1 million.
Nyanja committed the offence in February this year contrary to Section 278 of the Penal Code.
Blantyre police prosecutor, Sub – Inspector Grace Kanjiwa told the open court that the convict the removed the spares from grounded vehicles belonging to 45-year-old Terry Nkuta.
The vehicles were sparked for “safe keeping” at a Mr Khani’s house in Manase where the convict was also working as a houseboy. The house also belongs to the complainant, according to Prosecutor Kanjiwa.
It took five years for the complainant to notice that his vehicles had been tampered with.
“Nkuta parked his two vehicles within the compound for safe keeping, that is, Isuzu CVR bus and Mercedenz Benz 230 before Mr. Khani occupied the house. Kuta spent 5 years without visiting and checking his parked vehicles. It was on March 09, 2013 when he visited the place and checked his vehicles.
“It is at this time when he discovered that some spare parts were missing,” said Kanjiwa.
The Kuta suspected the houseboy Nyanja to have stolen the items and the matter was lodged at Manase Police unit.
Police investigations failed to ascertain the exact period of time when the spare parts were stolen; observing that they were either stolen before or after the suspect was employed as houseboy.
However, the suspect was arrested and formally charged with the offence of theft.
The accused person was brought before Blantyre Magistrate Court where he pleaded not guilty and was remanded at Chichiri prison.
After parading State witnesses, Senior Resident Magistrate Jean Rosemary Kayira found him guilty, convicted and sentenced him to 24 months with hard labour with effect from the date of arrest.
The items that were stolen include rear hubs and drums, engine top covers, autonator, gear box top cover, hand rails, aluminium roof and brake liners and Mercedenz Benz’s dashboard, door panels and door locks.
Meanwhile, Police are keeping in custody 42-year-old Stover Master, from Namaona village, Traditional Authority Njema in Mulanje for stealing motorcycle – Yamaha AG 100 registration number BP 1994 valued K695,000.
He allegedly stole the motorcycle on June 24, 2013 around 10:15hours at National Bank, Victoria Avenue Branch in the city of Blantyre.
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