The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has sentenced two people to 11 years in prison after being found guilty on two counts of robbery.

State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Bauleni Namasani told Magistrate James Mankhwazi that the convicts ambushed two people who were walking home, robbing them two handsets.

The convicts, Matafale Wilson, 20, and Safali Moses Allan, 19, were found guilty on two counts of robbery during the court session on Friday.

Inspector Namasani added that the two went away with two ATM cards, one driving license and cash amounting to K10, 000.

Said Lilongwe Police Station Deputy Publicist Foster Benjamin: “State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Bauleni Namasani told the court that the duo and six others currently at large were armed with pangas and hiding near Maula Parish main gate at about 20:30 hours on March 10 this year.”

They ambushed two people who were walking home, robbing them of two cell phones (iPhone 10 and Huawei), one driving licence, two ATM cards, all valued at K1. 2 million and some cash amounting to K10, 000.”

The State, however, asked for a harsh penalty, considering the gravity of the crime and the manner in which it was committed since it was an organized one.

In his sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate James Mankhwazi determined that the duo deserved long prison sentences since they were a threat to society.

He went on and slapped Wilson and Moses Allan each with 10 years for the first count and 11 years for the second count of robbery, in which both crimes will run concurrently.

Wilson comes from Kaonjeza Village Traditional Authority (T/A) Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe District and Moses Allan is from Kunjawaga Village T/A Tambala in Dedza District.