Africa-Press – Malawi. Lilongwe Court Judge Patrick Chirwa on Thursday, March 2, 2023 sentenced sentenced former Minister of Information Henry Mussa to three years imprisonment for the offence of conspiracy to steal and six years imprisonment for the offence of receiving stolen property.
The same court also jailed former Director of Information Gideon Munthali to three years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit a felony and 6 years imprisonment for theft by public person.
The duo’s sentencing follows their convictions in October last year in relation to the case of 10 computers and a genset which disappeared at the Ministry of Information.
In its submissions, the State argued that the offences were pre-meditated, arguing that there was proper planning and execution of the offence, as evidenced by WhatsApp messages.
But in mitigation, lawyers for the two Kalekeni Kaphale and Powell Nkhutabasa asked the court to consider giving the convicts a non-custodial sentence, considering that they served the nation as public servants; refunded the money for the gadgets; and have been in custody for the last four months.
He added that Mussa’s advanced age may not match with prison conditions. Nkhutabasa also asked the court to exercise leniency with the two, saying they were first-offenders, and that Mussa was in ill health.
But the State asked the court to give the two stiff penalties to deter other public servants from engaging in similar conduct. Both their sentences shall run concurrently, starting from the date of conviction.
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