Man sentenced to 3.4 years IHL for vandalising Escom property

The Senior Resident Magistrate court in Lilongwe, on Tuesday  convicted and sentenced a 26-year-old man, Never Chimphanje, to three years and four months imprisonment for vandalism of Escom  property.

The court heard through state prosecutor Richard Kandeya, that Chimphanje committed the offence on March 3, 2023 at Kaweche Village in Traditional Authority Masumbankhunda, Lilongwe.

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He said Chimphanje was caught in Dzalanyama Forest Reserve while cutting down Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) poles using an axe.

Appearing in court, Chimphanje admitted to have taken down three electricity poles.

In mitigation, Chimphanje asked for forgiveness for what he did, and prayed to the court for leniency when passing sentence.

During submission,Kandeya asked the court to slap the convict with hefty punishment citing the seriousness of the offence.

Kandeya also said that vandalism of Escom apparatus in Lilongwe is on the increase hence depriving communities economic development, apart from draining government resources.

Passing his sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Wanangwa Nyirenda, said   Chimphanje’s behavior is retrogressive, saying there is need for custodial punishment.

Nyirenda then sentenced Chimphanje to 40 months imprisonment with hard labour to serve as a deterrent to other would be offenders.

Never Chimphanje, hails from Nthenda Village, Traditional Authority Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe District.