Mangochi First Grade Magistrate’s Court on has convicted and sentenced a Malawian and two foreign nationals for being found in possession of fake bank notes contrary to section 366 of the Penal Code.

The three convicts have been identified as Panganani William, a Malawian aged 21, Emmanuel Saidi aged 19 from Rwanda and Jackson Sherma aged 29 from Burundi.

William and Saidi have been given four-year sentences each while Sherma will spend five years in jail.

The court heard through Mangochi Police Station Prosecutor Inspector Amos Mwase that the Malawian convict was arrested on February 14, 2023 following a tip from members of the community after he was spotted at Mangochi main market buying food commodities using the fake notes.

Mwase added that the foreign convicts were arrested later on February 17, 2023 at Chiphole Trading Centre about 139 kilometres from Mangochi Boma.

The two were found with K165,000 in K5,000 notes, canon printer, plain papers, razor blades, three printing color gels, scissors and blanket.

Appearing in court, William and Saidi pleaded guilty while Sherma denied the charges, a development which prompted the state to parade three witnesses, who proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.