Vandalism, theft and possessing Escom Limited aluminium conductors, valued at K6 million, have earned two men jail terms of eight and six years in Mzuzu.
Police prosecutor Betty Gondwe Msowoya said Senior Resident Magistrate Ashford Harawa delivered the eight-year jail term on Manson Simbeye and six years for Patrick Mpepu earlier this week.
The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to the charges; hence, there was a full trial on Mwepu for theft and possession of stolen Escom items and Simbeye for vandalism and theft charges. The offences contravene section 45(4)(a) and (b) of the Electricity Amendment Act of 2024.
“On antecedents, I told the court that the conductors that were stolen and vandalized were meant for a health facility at Mazamba; hence, the facility was denied power supply in that period. The convicts’ actions also undermine the country’s efforts to develop infrastructure,” she said.
In mitigation, Simbeye asked for lenience citing many family obligations whereas Mpepu also asked for mercy, saying he would be unable to repay a loan he took from a financial institution while in jail.
Police in Mzuzu arrested Simbeye, Mpepu and three other suspects, who the court acquitted for insufficient evidence, on April 23 2024 on suspicion of having committed the offences in Mchengautuba.
Escom has lost K4 billion in revenue and replacement costs in the last two years due to theft and vandalism. The corporation registers cases of vandalism every day across the country.