The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate court on Thursday ordered Mary Ndisale, 57, to pay a fine of K690,000 for illegally bypassing a water billing system in order to access piped water for free.
The court heard through police prosecutor Sub Inspector Regina Chikungwa, that on October 19, 2022, one of the Mangochi Water Board plumbers discovered that Ndisale was consuming water illegally using a meter bypass despite being disconnected by the board due to unsettled bills.
Prosecutor Chikungwa added that the officials from the Water Board warned her several times against the malpractice before taking an action of reporting her to police.
Appearing in court, Ndisale, who pleaded guilty asked for court’s leniency when passing sentence saying she is a breadwinner for her family.
In her submission, Chikungwa expressed concerns over Ndisale’s behaviour saying that using unauthorized water materials is dangerous to people as it may lead to water contamination.
Prosecutor Chikungwa added that the Water Board spends a lot of money and other resources to provide clean, and safe water to residents hence, prayed for a stiffer punishment.
Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe, concurred with the state while taking into consideration the mitigating factor.
He then went on to order Ndisale to pay a K690,000 fine as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.
The SRM further directed that K490,000 of the fine be paid to the water board as reconnection fees.
Ndisale, hails from Mtalimanja Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.
