The Mangochi second grade magistrate court has ordered a 35 year old Alick Ibrahim to pay a fine of K300,000 for committing an intentional offence of endangering safety of persons travelling by road.

Mangochi Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Amina Tepani Daudi has said Police Prosecutor Sub lnspector Maxwell Mwaluka told the court that, on January 19, 2019 Ibrahim was driving a Toyota Hiace minibus registration number LA7014 from the direction of Mangochi heading Liwonde.

“He was then arrested and his motor vehicle impounded by traffic police at Mpinganjira Trading Centre for mixing up passengers with goods (several cartons of fish) which took 3 of the seats in the minibus,” Tepani Daudi said.

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 while justifying that Ibrahim did not consider the safety of the passengers.

And such cases are among biggest contributing factors to increase of road accidents in the district.” Mangochi Deputy PRO narrated.

When passing judgement his worship second grade magistrate resident Augustine Mizaya concurred with the state.

“such drivers need to be given stiffer penalties to act as a lesson to him and other would be offenders.” Mizaya added.

Resident Magistrate Mizaya therefore ordered Ibrahim to pay a fine of K300,000 in default 18 months imprisonment with hard labour which he later paid.

Alick Ibrahim hails from village Chomba village in the area of traditional authority Mponda in Mangochi.