The First Grade Magistrate Court at Machinga Boma last week convicted and ordered almost 64 teacher students under the Open Distance Learning Programme to pay K15, 000 each after the court found them guilty of entering examination room with cell phones contrary to the Malawi National Examination Act.

First grade Magistrate, Esther Phiri passing judgement said the students had a case to answer because their conduct was contrary to the national examinations regulations which restrict entering examination room with phones and other items that can facilitate cheating.

Police in Machinga arrested the 64 students at Machinga Boma Teacher Development Center on July 31 after Malawi National Examination Board (Maneb) reported to the police that the students entered the examination room with cell phones.

The Police confisticated cell phones and took caution statements from the students who were allowed to continue writing the examinations as they were on police bail.

Most of the students paid the fines on Wednesday while others were still looking for the cash as of Friday.

Sources from the court indicated that out of the 64 students, some did not turn up on the day the court was passing judgment such that the court will issue summons for them to appear before the court.