A 34-year-old driver, Andrew Sawabu who hails from Saiti Kadzuwa Village in Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi has been convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour for wounding a police officer and K350,000 fine for causing death by reckless driving.
According to Mangochi Police Station Public Relations Officer Amina Tepani Daudi, Sawabu met his fate on November 23rd, 2022 at Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court after being on the run after hitting to death Peter Juma, 30, on July 26th, 2022 at Mogas Lodge while driving unregistered 7 tonne lorry from the direction of Mangochi Boma heading Maldeco.
“Upon arrival at Mogas Lodge, he lost control of the motor vehicle due to overspeeding and swerved to the offside of the road where he hit Juma who was walking heading the same direction who sustained severe head injuries and the convict abandoned him at Mangochi District Hospital where he died while recieving treatment and later fled the town after selling the said motor vehicle,” Daudi explained.
According to her, State prosecutor Inspector Amos Mwase told the court that, on the night of November 6th, 2022 when Sawabu was arrested by the patro team at Soko Trading Center following a tip from members of the community after he was spotted having a good time he attempted to resist the arrest by producing a knife and stabbed one of the officers on the upper left eye who sustained a cut wound.
“The officer was rushed to Mangochi District Hospital where he was treated and Sawabu pleaded guilty to all charges levelled against him after appearing before court,” she said.
Daudi then highlighted that in mitigation through his representative Counsel Smart Khalifa, the convict asked for court’s leniency based on family obligations but in submission state prosecutor Mwase, cited that the convict disrespected and compromised security agency and his motive of carrying a sharp knife indicated that he had bad intentions all along.
“Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state’s submission and sentenced Sawabu to 2-years imprisonment with hard labour for unalwful wounding and K350,000 fine for causing death by reckless driving and a sum of K300,000 to be paid as compensation to the bereaved family,” Daudi said.
