Mangochi Second Grade Court has ordered a 21-year-old driver to pay a fine of K150, 000 for assaulting a police officer who was on duty which is contrary to section 256(b) of the penal code.

Mangochi Police station public relations officer Sergeant Amina Tepani Daudi has identified the convict as Juma Jabu who committed the offence on July, 2, 2018.

Mangochi police prosecutor Sub Inspector Maxwell Mwaluka told the court that during that time, Juma was driving unregistered Mazda pick-up from the direction of traffic lights heading M’baluku.

“Upon arrival at Villa Tafika roundabout he was stopped by traffic police personnel who were executing their duties at the check point. After inspecting the motor vehicle, the officers impounded it since it had no any document displayed on the windscreen,” said the prosecutor.

He was told to surrender the car keys and follow the officers to the police station.

But as they were driving into the police premises, Juma suddenly switched off the vehicle’s engine and removed the keys off the ignition. He then went to the driver’s door and started beating Sergeant Jabson Chaona who was driving the vehicle at that time.

Upon seeing what was happening, his fellow officers came and rescued him. He sustained a cut on the upper lip and taken to Mangochi district hospital for treatment.

Juma was apprehended a week later after he fled from the scene.

In court, he pleaded guilty to the charges rendered on him. The prosecutor asked the court to impose a stiff punishment on him to serve as a lesson to others.

When passing judgement his worship second grade magistrate John Mpwahiwa expressed dismay over the accused person’s conduct.

He therefore ordered him to pay a fine of K150, 000 in default 18 months imprisonment with hard labour. If paid K50, 000 will be given to the victim as compensation.

However, Juma failed to pay the money and he has since been thrown in prison.

He hails from Nyangu village in the area of traditional authority Namabvi in Mangochi.