Mangochi Second Grade Magistrate Court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a Garda World security guard, Frank Kapito, 43, to two years and six months imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for theft.

Kapito broke into Mangochi Chibuku Brewery offices stealing 25 token cards of the company's Kuiphula Promotion.

The court convicted and sentenced 43 year old, Gift Lumbe, a DJ at the brewery to two years IHL for conniving with Kapito to break into the office where the tokens were stolen.

The court heard from Mangochi Police Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Ted Namaona that on December 16, 2022 Kapito and his accomplice Lumbe, broke into the brewery where the tokens which they later gave to people within Mangochi Town so that they could claim their prizes from Chibuku Products.

“The Promotions Officer, having realised that his office was broken into, reported the case to the Operations Manager who told him to wait until people started coming to claim their prizes,” Namaona said.

Six people visited the company to claim their prizes and upon interrogation they revealed that Kapito gave them the token cards.

Appearing before Second Grade Magistrate, Baxter Chikalimba, the two denied the charges which prompted the state to parade three witnesses that testified against them.

In mitigation, the two pleaded for leniency saying they were first offenders and had families that depend on them.

Passing judgement, Chikalimba said the offence which the two committed was serious and tarnishes the image of Kapito’s employer, Garda World.

“The behaviour tarnishes the image of your employer because other companies may not trust their services,” he said.

He, therefore, sentenced Kapito to two years and six months IHL for being the master mind and Lumbe to two years IHL for being an accomplice.

Kapito, comes from Saiwa Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Makangwala in Ntcheu whereas Lumbe, comes from Chomba Village, TA Mponda in Mangochi.

Source: Ernest Mfunya, Mana.