A police officer in Mchinji has been sentenced to four years imprisonment with hard labor for being found guilty for possessing with a pangolin.

Chief resident Magistrate Madalitso Chimwaza sentenced Mavuto Jophris (the police officer) alongside another person.

The two were arrested in May after they were offering the listed species for sale.

The suspects were answering the case of being found in possession of listed species contrary to section 86 (1) of the National Parks and Wildlife act as read with section 110B (b) of National Parks and Wildlife.

Mavuto Jophris hails from Jophris Village, Traditional Authority Malemia Nsanje.