By Pempho Musowa
The Balaka Second Grade Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced a 46-year-old man, Paul Lipenga from Mgwira Village in Traditional Authority Kalembo in Balaka, to 36 months imprisonment with hard labour for vandalising and stealing Escom Property.
State prosecutor Superintendent Bodwin Msukwa told the court that Lipenga committed the offence on November 22, 2024 at Mbera Trading Centre where he stole 300 metres of Hazzle Escom Wire valued at K5,500,000.00.
Lipenga pleaded guilty to three counts of Vandalism of Electricity Installation Equipment, Found in Possession of Equipment from the Licencee (Escom) and theft.
Second Grade Magistrate Peter Mkuzi sentenced Lipenga to 36 months IHL for Vandalism of Electricity Installation, 18 months IHL for found in possession of equipment from the Licencee (Escom) and theft has earned him 18 months IHL.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
The convict, Paul Lipenga, comes from Mgwira Village in Traditional Authority Kalembo in Balaka District.
