Nsanje First Grade Magistrate’s Court has fined four people over failure to adhere to Covid-19 preventive measures.
The court convicted the four on Wednesday January 27, and ordered them to pay a fine of K10, 000.00 each for contravening the Malawi Public Health (covid-19) regulations
According to Nsanje Police Public Relations Officer Sub- Inspector Agnes Zalakoma, the state through Sub- Inspector Richard Dzineso and Sub- Inspector Victor Nachuma told the court that on the said day law enforcers led by superintendent Raines Wasili conducted a special operation to enforce covid-19 prevention regulations.
In course of their duty police arrested the convicts for not wearing face masks at a public place contrary to rule 20(3) of Malawi public healthy corona virus and Covid prevention.
Appearing before magistrate John Mphwahiwa all of them pleaded guilty.
In submission the state through Sub- Inspector Richard Dzineso and Sub- Inspector Victor Nachuma prayed for a stiff penalty to the convicts to deter would-be offenders.
The two said government put in place the guidelines to protect citizens from the pandemic saying it is unfortunate that some people disobey them hence the call for a stiff penalty.
Mphwahiwa therefore ordered the convicts to pay K10,000 each or in default to serve one month jail term.
He said this should send a signal to people in the district to abide by the preventive measures.
According to Zalakoma, the convicts have since paid the fines.
