Civil Servant Jailed for Robbing Orphans

Balaka district council employee has been jailed for stealing money meant for orphans.

Zomba senior resident magistrate court sentenced Hastings Mwachibe to 6 years.

According to state prosecutor Louis Makiyi, Mwachibe was working as a clerk in the deceased estate office between 2006 and 2013.

“He stole over 8 million kwacha which was deposited into his office for minor beneficiaries whose parents had died,” Mwachibe said

Mwachibe also falsified the ledger book where such information was recorded by covering up figures with pieces of paper and allowing false signature to be entered in an attempt to cover up the fraud.

“Appearing before court Mwachibe pleaded not guilty to the charges of theft by public servant and falsification of registers a development that forded the state to parade 15 witnesses including two district commissioners and the beneficiaries,” said Makiyi

After a full trial Mwachibe was found guilty and in mitigation he remained silent.

“When passing sentence High court Assistant registrar Wyson Chamdimba Nkhata who was seating as senior resident magistrate bemoaned Mwachibe’s conduct which doubled the suffering of orphans,” added Mwachibe

Hastings Mwachibe comes from Guta Village Traditional Authority Bibi Kuluunda in Salima district.