Mangochi First Grade magistrate Court on Thursday convicted and ordered 17 men and 2 women to pay a fine amounting to K10,000 .00 or serve a 30 days jail term for not adhering to Covid -19 preventive measures.
During hearing, Mangochi police prosecutor Emmanuel Kambwiri told the court that, earlier on that day, Mangochi police officers were on Covid-19 preventive measures enforcement operation within the township in the district.
Kambwiri told the court that, in course of their duty the officers managed to arrest 17 men and 2 women who were found roaming around the town without face mask.
Delivering his judgment magistrate Mtunduwatha Mpasu, found all the accused guilty to the charge.
In mitigation, the accused persons asked for forgiveness before the magistrate claiming that they were all first offenders. But state prayed for stiffer sentence saying it is high time people start adhering to all covid-19 measures to fight to the spread of the pandemic.
Passing the sentence First Grade Magistrate Mtunduwatha Mpasu concurred with the state hence ordered each of them them to pay a K10, 000 fine or in default serve 30 days imprisonment with hard labour.
All the convicts have since played paid the fine.
