By Peter Kanjere, ESCOM PRO

The First Grade Magistrate’s Court sitting in Monkey Bay has found George Jailosi with a case to answer for allegedly vandalizing a transformer for ESCOM at Chamtulo Trading Centre in Mangochi recently.

Jailosi was found with the criminal case to answer when he appeared before the court on Wednesday, 8th March 2023 in the lakeshore district.

Police prosecutor, Lyson Kachikondo, paraded three witnesses, according to court records.

The court has since adjourned the case to Friday, 10th March 2023 when Jailosi is expected to give evidence in his defence.

Some members of the community at Chamtulo apprehended Jailosi at around 2:45am on February 26 2023 before handing him over to Monkey Bay Police Unit.

The members of the community caught the 33-year-old suspect while he was cutting copper wire from the transformer, which is located in a maize garden.

Jailosi, who denied the offence, was found with a knife, a hacksaw and insulator gloves.

The suspect hails originally from Chiliko Village, Traditional Authority Kadewere in Chiradzulu District.

The offence contravenes section 45 of the Electricity Act and can attract a lengthy custodial sentence.

In a related development, two suspects were arrested in Phalombe District on Wednesday in connection with vandalism and theft of five spans of single-phase aluminium conductor for ESCOM at Mitekete area.

Members of the community in the area caught the suspects—Jonathan Mwitha and Friday Julius—while they were allegedly vandalizing the 1,000-metre conductor, whose estimated value is K1,128,000.

A similar act of vandalism occurred on Friday, 3rd March 2023 when eight wooden poles were cut down and six spans of aluminum conductor and line accessories were stolen on a portion of our 11kV Bunda Overhead line at Dzalanyama Forest in Lilongwe.

ESCOM has since condemned these acts of vandalism, saying they undermine efforts to increase access to electricity and improve service delivery.

ESCOM encourages members of the public to report cases of vandalism through tollfree number 847 and any nearest police station.