The court through state prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Davison Banda, heard that between March 2019 and April 2020, Smart Kazembe who was trusted as a caretaker at a house of Mr. Hassan Black stole from same house goods including 14 plasma TV screens, 14 chairs, 5 cartons of tiles, 4 door frames and 5 tins of paint.

Assistant Superintendent Banda said the matter was reported to Mangochi Police Station in which Smart was arrested on April 22, and managed to recover 3 door frames, 6 chairs, 2 motor vehicle rims, 1 plasma TV screen and motor vehicle diff frame.

Smart pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against him and was found guilty upon his own plea of guilty.

He asked the court for leniency saying he was influenced by evil spirit but in its submission the state prayed for stiff penalty citing the conduct of Smart as unlawful.

In his judgment, Second Grade Magistrate Mtunduwatha Mpasu concurred with the state and slapped him with 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labor as a deterrent to others.

Smart Kazembe, hails from village Chilewani Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chitera in Chiradzulu district.