Man Gets 8 year Jail Sentence for Possessing Marijuana

Kasungu  First Grade Magistrate Court on Friday  has sentenced Symon Phiri age 46 to serve 8 years imprisonment for being found in possession  of cannabis sativa popularly known as Marijuana or Indian Hemp.

Symon was arrested on 18th April this year after Police got a tip from members of the public that he was keeping  cannabis  in his house said Inspector Edwin Kaunda Kasungu Police Public Relations Officer.

Inspector Kaunda said the man was found with 34 bags of the drug each weighing 50kg.

He pleaded  guilty to charge of being found in possession of cannabis sativa which is contrary to regulation 4(a) of Dangerous drug regulation as read with section 19(1) [subsection 1], of Dangerous Drug Act. 

Police prosecutors also tendered to court the said bags of cannabis sativa before sentencing.

In his submission the state prosecutor Assistant Superintendent Alphas Banda asked the court to give the convict a stiffer punishment because the offence he committed is serious and that the drug is one of the cause of insanity among the youths in the country. 

His worship Damiano agreed with state prosecutor and  gave the convict eight year jail term. 

Symon Phiri comes from Mekembambo village of Sub T/A Chisinga in Kasungu district.

Cannabis Sativa Smuggler Sentenced to Five Years Imprisonment

The First Magistrate Court in Nkhotakota has sentenced a man who smuggled 29 bags of Indian Hemp using his Carina vehicle to five years imprisonment or pay K900 thousand fine in default.

Nkhotakota First Grade Magistrate found guilty  Matambo Gizito Chikwa age 32 who was arrested on 11th March this year.

Chikwa dumped his Carina vehicle registration number NU 5592 when he saw police roadblock at a short distance.

When police inspected the abandoned vehicle found a driver's license and 29 bags of Cannabis Sativa well packed in the vehicle.

Few days later Chikwa was arrested in Blantyre and pleaded guilty in court. 

On mitigation, Chikwa's lawyer asked the court to be lenient saying he is married with three children who needs his care. He added that he is young and energetic who can contribute to the economic activities in the country and therefore sending him to jail would not be a good solution. 

However, First Grade Magistrate Fred Juma Chilowetsa said Chikwa committed a very serious offense and deserve a corresponding sentence.

Police in Salima Intercept 28 Bags of Cannabis

Police in Salima Intercept 28 Bags of Cannabis

Salima district police are hunting for unknown men who dumped a vehicle carrying 28 bags of Indian hemp.

Police in the district says a Toyota minibus Hiace registration number DA 1780 belonging to Peter Katasya of Chintheche was dumped when both driver and passengers had spot the police vehicle at a distance.

According to Police Public Realations Officer for Salima District Sergeant Gift Chitowe this happened at Nkhuki village in Salima along Salima-Nkhotakota road on 3^rd December around 15:30 hours.

The Police officer said from the abandoned vehicle police found bags weigh 1,200 killograme. He said police had a tip off from members of the general public that the named vehicle coming from Dwangwa heading to Blantyre was carrying the Indian hemp.

“But inquiry is still on to trace the culprits” said Sergeant Chitowe