Nathenje Second Grade Magistrate’s court in Lilongwe on Tuesday sentenced a minibus driver to pay K350, 000 for causing injuries to a traffic police officer through his deliberately reckless driving.
The convict is identified as Chifuniro Kanadyaopa, aged 29 , from Chimutu in Traditional Authority Tsabango in the district.
State Prosecutor Thomas Lucio told the court that traffic officer, Sub-Inspector Agnes Stock, on August 22 at about 11:00 hours at Nathenje Admarc Forest, booked Kanadyaopa for failing to produce a driver’s license, insurance and certificate of fitness (COF).
Stock is said to have impounded the minibus, CK 6125 Mazda Bongo, and ordered the driver to get to Nathenje Police Post.
As the driver was approaching the office, he willfully and deliberately directed the minibus to a tree, but he ended up plunging into a ditch.
He immediately bolted from the vehicle, leaving the traffic officer with minor injuries due to the impact.
The driver fell into the hands of community members who handed him over to the police.
He was charged with acts intended to cause grievous harm, a charge he admitted to.
Prosecutor Lucio prayed to the court to mete out a harsh penalty, saying the accused was a danger to traffic personnel.
But in his mitigation, Kanadyaopa asked the court to forgive him, claiming he did not act deliberately since he was too confused at that particular time.
However, Second Grade Magistrate Rose Chirwa quashed the driver’s mitigations and, instead, she agreed with the court that such individuals are a menace to the police and society as the whole.
Chirwa went ahead and slapped Kanadyaopa with K350,000 fine or, in default, 4-year-jail term as a measure of deterrence.
