By Rahim Abdul
The Lilongwe First Grade Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced Ester James, 38, to six years imprisonment for housebreaking and theft, following a series of incidents that occurred in Area 36, Lilongwe, in April, 2024.
Prosecuting, Sub Inspector Florence Mlanje of Lilongwe Police told the court that over three separate days, James repeatedly broke into the house of a single mother and stole various household items, including 10 packets of sugar, two litres of cooking oil, and wrappers (zitenje).
The court further heard that on the third day, while the house owner had gone to a nearby water kiosk, the convict entered the house, removed a disabled child who was sleeping on a mattress, placed the child on the floor, and stole the mattress.
Appearing in court, despite pleading not guilty, James was convicted after the state paraded witnesses, some of whom were found in possession of the stolen property after allegedly buying it from the convict.
In mitigation, James asked the court for leniency, stating that she was a first-time offender.
However, the state pushed for a stiffer sentence, urging the court to consider the circumstances and frequency of the offences, rather than the total value of the stolen items, which amounted to K149,000.
Sub Inspector Mlanje emphasized that the stolen mattress had been donated by well-wishers to support the vulnerable woman and her disabled child.
In his ruling, First Grade Magistrate Imran Phiri agreed with the prosecution, noting that the convict repeatedly targeted an already vulnerable family.
Magistrate Phiri subsequently sentenced James to six years imprisonment, saying the punishment would serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.
Ester James comes from Mchengawede Village, Traditional Authority Ganya, in Ntcheu District.
