The Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court has sentenced 38-year-old Grant Mpasu to 18 months in prison with hard labour for stealing copper oxygen cables worth K2.8 million from Bwaila District Hospital.
According to Lilongwe Police Station Public Relations Officer Hastings Chigalu, Mpasu was caught in March after hospital staff discovered he had vandalized and stolen copper cables from the ceiling.
“The stolen cables disrupted oxygen supply systems, leading to equipment failure in the labour ward’s operating theatre.
“Tragically, the incident also affected the kangaroo nursery section, where oxygen concentrators failed,” he said.
Chigalu added that before alternative systems could be restored, seven premature babies died due to lack of oxygen.
“Mpasu pleaded not guilty to the theft charge, prompting State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Leonard Chabwera to present five witnesses in court.
“Despite pleading for leniency as a first-time offender and family breadwinner, the court sided with the prosecution.”
He said Magistrate Benjamin Chulu emphasized the seriousness of the crime and sentenced Mpasu to one and a half years behind bars with hard labour.
Mpasu is from Kambewa Village, Traditional Authority Ganya in Ntcheu District.
