Two poachers given four-year jail terms

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Machinga

The Nkhotakota magistrate court on Thursday sentenced two Malawian men to four years in prison with hard labour   after being found guilty of possessing a gun with live bullets and poaching in a restricted area.

According to Nkhotakota police spokesperson Sergeant Williams Kaponda, the two, Yotam Chimaima and Kumpaliro Abraham were caught poaching on September 17 at Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.

Kaponda said on this day, the two went to the wildlife reserve and killed bush bucks, a development that angered some people who saw them killing the animal.

CourtHe said the people reported the matter to the police. The publicist further added that upon receiving the tip, the Nkhotakota police rushed to the house of one of the convicts where they found the two sharing the animal. They arrested the two and took them to Nkhotakota Police Station.

After the court found them guilty, the magistrate at first gave the two a chance of rescuing themselves from the jail terms as he told them to pay a fine of MK630,000 each on two offences of possessing a gun illegally and poaching but they failed to pay the fine.

Chimaima hails from group village headman Sensani while Abraham hails from Nyondo village both in the area of Traditional Authority Malengachanzi in the district.