Bogus Researcher jailed

Zomba Senior Residents Magistrate court has sentenced a 36 year old bogus researcher Macdonald Chopi to 8 years imprisonment with hard labor for stealing six motor vehicles belonging to a Car Hire.

Zomba Police prosecutor Superintendent Florida Tsateni told the court that on 1st July, 2016 Chopi went to Alexander Car Hire where he hired six motor vehicles saying that he wanted to use them in an alleged Legal Research which was to take 6 to 9 months.

“Months after hiring the vehicles, the convict could not be located or reached on his mobile numbers and this made Alexander Car Hire through Mr Kennedy Ntamba to report the matter to Zomba Police Station,” explained Tsateni.

Sauka said upon investigations, Police arrested Macdonald Chopi and discovered that all the vehicles were sold.

“Police recovered the cars in Dedza and Blantyre where they were sold,” said Sauka.

Chopi pleaded guilty to the charge of theft of motor vehicles which is contrary to section 278 of the Penal code.

Macdonald Chopi comes from Zazira village in TA Kadewere in Chiradzulu district.