Mangochi First Grade Magistrate Court has sentenced a 28-year-old man to three years imprisonment with hard labour for failing to pay a fine of K400, 000 after he was convicted for being in possession of a fire arm without documents.

The man has been identified as Innocent Harawa who was found with a webley revolver on the independence eve.

Mangochi Police Prosecutor Sub Inspector Maxwell Mwaluka told the court that on that day, police received a tip that Harawa was offering for sale the fire arm at the cost of K750, 000.

Following the tip, the officers rushed to apprehend Harawa and recovered the riffle serial number 293698 and eleven live ammunitions without licence at Pep store within Mangochi township.

Appearing in court the accused person pleaded guilty to the charge.

In his submission before sentence Mwaluka pleaded with the court to impose a custodial sentence because lives of members of the general public were at stake since the riffle is in a working condition.

When passing judgment, his worship First Grade Magistrate Ronald M’bwana concurred with the state hence ordered him to pay a fine of K400, 000 in default for 3-years imprisonment with hard labour.

However, the convict failed to pay the money.

Harawa hails from Sumaili village in the area of traditional authority Jalasi  in Mangochi.