Senior Resident Magistrate Anne Banda has convicted and sentenced a 30-year-old Blantyre based minibus driver to 6 six months in prison with hard labour for exceeding carrying capacity of passengers.

Chiko Chiwasa was arrested on Tuesday as he was driving along the Lali Lubani road with 16 passengers on board, instead of the recommended number of 12 passengers in minibus.

“The offence was contrary to regulation 14 as read with 167 (2) of road Traffic Act,” said the assistant public relations officer for Southern Region Police Headquarters, Peter Mchiza.

After being found guilty in court, Chiwasa begged for leniency saying he has family with kids that depend on him and also he looks after his old parents.

But senior resident magistrate Anne Banda said the convict deserved a hard punishment to serve as a lesson to other minibus drivers who have the tendency of exceeding the carrying capacity of passengers.

She then slapped him with 6-months in prison with hard labour or to pay K200.000 in default which he failed to pay.