Mzuzu man gets four years for stealing Water Board metres
Shadreck Banda, 34, sentenced to 4 years with hard labour for stealing 11 water meters worth over K3 million, , writes Tionge Hara.
Mzuzu, Malawi-The Chief Resident Magistrate's Court in Mzuzu has sentenced Shadreck Banda, 34, to 4 years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing 11 Northern Region Water Board metres worth over K3 million kwacha, writes Tionge Hara.
Police say community police members on patrol on May 17 noticed Banda acting suspiciously, and upon searching his bag, found the water metres.
Banda pleaded guilty to theft contrary to Section 278 of the Penal Code.
The police prosecutor requested a deterrent sentence to curb the rise in metre vandalism in Mzuzu.
The magistrate jailed Banda for 4 years of hard labour, saying the tough sentence aims to deter would-be offenders.
The hefty punishment sends a clear message: metre theft and tampering will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will face the full force of the law.
Residents hope the court's tough stance will help curb the costly problem of infrastructure vandalism.