Five sentenced to 150 years in jail

NKASI District Magistrate’s Court in Rukwa region has sentenced five people to 150 years in jail for armed robbery of over 5m/-, with each convict spending 30 years in jail.

The five convicts are Doto Said, alias Ngaru (42), a resident of Majengo area in Sumbawanga municipality, Mganga Madama (38), of Kibaoni village in Mlele District in Katavi, and Masanja Lupiga (36), from Majengo area in Sumbawanga municipality.

Other convicts are Daudi Mahega (28), a resident of Mbalizi in Mbeya City, and Godfrey Komredi, alias, Msoma (28), from Paramawe village in Nkasi District.

Passing the judgment, Nkasi District Magistrate in Charge Lillian Lutehagwa said the prosecution side which summoned 12 witnesses, had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt before the court.

The 12 witnesses substantiated the case, with all convicts given an opportunity to defend themselves. Prosecuting, Inspector of Police Hamim Gwelo charged before the court that the convicts committed the crime on August 29, 2015 at 6:40 pm at Milumba village that borders Mlele District in Katavi and Nkasi districts.

Mr Gwelo charged further that on the material day, the convicts wielding a homemade shotgun, ambushed a passenger car by blocking the road with huge stones and robbed passengers of 5m/- and eight mobile phones.

The passenger car, a Toyota Hiace with registration numbers T258BST, was heading to Sumbawanga Town in Rukwa region from Katavi region’s Mlele District.

It was alleged that the convict, Doto was arrested on September 03, 2015 armed with two homemade shotguns, and upon grilling, he identified his accomplices. All the five convicts appeared in court for the first time on September 18, 2015.

Mr Gwelo asked the court to pass harsh sentences that will serve as a lesson to them and others likely to commit similar crimes.

On mitigation, the convicts Mahega and Komredi maintained their innocence, saying they never committed the crime and prayed for lenient sentence because they are not only first offenders but also have dependants.

Source: Daily News