The Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate has sentenced a Malawian man, January Jafali Phiri, 30, to six years imprisonment or to pay a K450,000 fine for possessing 26 bags of Indian hemp.
Phiri was arrested together with Felix Maulidi, 35, but Maulidi was later acquitted after there was insufficient evidence against him.
State prosecutor, Sub-Inspector James Ngusya Muyira, told the court that the convict, during the night of August 31 this year, asked Maulidi to safely keep for him 26 bags claiming that they contained Usipa.
“Maulidi was astonished after the police invaded his house the same night alleging that he is keeping the illicit drug, Chamba.”
“He was instantly arrested and directed the police to where Phiri was residing. The police arrested Phiri and found hemp seeds in his house,” he said.
With credible evidence provided by the state, the court found Phiri guilty on charges of illegally being found in possession of cannabis sativa which is contrary to section 4 (a) of the Dangerous Drugs Regulation and 19 (1) of Dangerous Drugs Act.
In mitigation, Phiri asked the court for leniency saying he has family and businesses which will automatically suffer if he goes to prison. He further said he felt remorseful for committing the crime and repented altogether.
In his ruling, First Grade Magistrate Fred Juma Chilowetsa sentenced Phiri to 6 years imprisonment with hard Labour or to pay a fine of K450,000. The convict has not yet paid the fine and is being kept at Nkhotakota prison.
Phiri hails from Msinje village in the area of Traditional Authority Kachindamoto in Dedza district.
Musiyen munthu apange zace,,mukukanica kumanga anthu anapha njauju,,apolisi aku Malawi ndinu mazoba
ngati kuli zisilu zam’boma ndiye ku malawi kuno agalu achabechabe machende amanu a police nonse
Machende anu aboma!
Malawian policemen nde amenewo…..
Mpaka 6yrs mesa chamba ndi golide wathu kuno ku mw
Zisilu mukulephela kumanga athu okuba ndalama boma ndiye matumba osewa koma munafika nawo pa khoti?
Uyu mwamumanga six years chifukwa cha chamba chomwe sichinasokonezepo chitukuko cha boma. Muweluzenso mlandu wa Lutepo ameneyu akuyenela kukhala kundende zaka 90.
Zitsiru zapolice
26 bags imeeyo we cn make alot of money, why kumumanga munthu osalakwa economy ikuvuta mumangaso munthu oti akanatipezesako kangachepe
chamba bola kusiyana ndi bale talolezani wid
kodi apolice akumalawi mumalimbana ndi anthu oti akupanga zawo bwanji mukuleka kumanga anthu andale omwe akuba ndalama zadziko mxiiiiiii!
Mwamulakwira kwambiri munthuyu
apolisi mukuleka kukagwira ma cash gaters uko. Mxiew foodya eti?
Akapanda kugulisa chamba adyanji makoti muziganizila troubles of your fellow country men
Apolisi akumalawi akagulitsa amenewo nawonso amadziwa kut mbanje ndi dhilu yolusa,,,,
haha koma wangochita tsoka ameneyu Ambiri amapulumuka chifukwa cha chinyengo
Kodi malamulo athu ndiokhazikika?wa chamba 6yrs,wa cashgate 3yrs woba nkhuku 1yr,wogwilira ena 7yrs ndi ena 14yrs.kodi ma reform anuwo ku judicially ku afika?amatikaikisa kwambiri anthu amenewa makamaka ngati usawapase chibanzi chabwino palibe.