Bike thief gets 14 years hard labour

If only European and US judges were as tough on bike nabbers as Magistrate Soka Banda of Malawi.

Last Friday he sentenced Harry Mataka to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a brand new bicycle.

In passing judgment, First Grade Magistrate Soka Banda said he had given Mataka a custodial sentence because the bicycle was not recovered and that the convict, apart from robbing the woman, wanted to rape her as well. Malawi Daily Times

Would-be London mayor Boris Johnson would no doubt welcome long jail terms for British bike thieves, although he’d go futher…Those that are caught should have their hands cut off, believes the bicycling MP. In March, he was received warmly at a meeting of Islington Cyclists’ Action Group when he said:

“I think these people deserve punishment and I’m calling for Sharia law for bicycle thieves.

“If I had my way I would plant decoys in a whole lot of bicycles across the borough and in the evening I would send Navy Seals in through the thieves’ windows and show them what it’s all about.”