Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 ordered Antonio M’dala, 42, and three others to pay a fine of K70,000 each for illegally entering into the country which contravenes Section 21 (1) of the Immigration Act.
During court proceedings, Mangochi Police Prosecutor Sub Inspector Maggie Chibulire narrated that on the wee hours of June 6, 2021 the officers who were patrolling within Mangochi Township intercepted a Toyota Hiace minibus registration number MH 7051 with several passengers on board.
After thoroughly searching the motor vehicle, the officers found four Mozambicans who had no proper traveling documents, but were proceeding to Lilongwe for business.
Appearing in court, the accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge leveled against them.
In mitigation, the four asked the court for a lenient penalty, but prosecutor Chibulire argued against their plea saying the four deliberately did not follow proper procedures.
Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state’s call for a stiff penalty.
He therefore ordered each of them to pay a fine of K70,000 in default to serve six months imprisonment with hard labour. Michongwe also ordered them to go back to their country and not to proceed with their journey.
Meanwhile, the four Mozambican nationals have all paid the money in Malawian currency.
Antonio M’dala, Sani Mustapha, Fernando Assan and Anthony Selima hail from Lichinga in Mozambique.
