Two Malawians have been sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour for obtaining 54 thousand 500 Kwacha by false pretences.
Zanis reports that appearing before Chipata Magistrate Mercy Chabu were Byson Phiri 33 and Madalitso Mbewe 29 who were charged with five counts of obtaining money by false pretences contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Facts of the matter were that the two whilst acting together with other person unknown between January 16 and February 11 2016 obtained the cash from five people under the pretext that they were going to raise people from the dead.
The two pleaded not guilty to all the charges but the courts found them with a case to answer and were put on defence.
In passing ruling, Magistrate Chabu said she was satisfied that the state has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the duo accordingly.
In mitigation, Phiri asked the courts to exercise maximum lenience on him as he was married with two children while Mbewe said he was the one taking care of his three children left by his late wife.
In delivering judgement, Magistrate Chabu said she had considered what the duo said in mitigation but that she was going to give them a stiffer punishment so as to deter would be offenders.