Weeks after Rumphi district hospital pharmacy was razed down by a mysterious fire, first grade magistrate court in the district has convicted and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour, one of the hospital’s staff members, who was found in possession of essential drugs without permits.

State prosecutors told the court that the convict, Nancy Mbale, aged 43, who was working as the hospital’s attendant, was found with assorted drugs barely two days after the hospital pharmacy was consumed by fire.

She pleaded guilty to the charges and magistrate Cuthbert Phiri, in his judgement, observed that Mbale deserved a stiffer punishment to deter would be offenders.

She hails from Jeyeka Village, Traditional Authority Chikulamayembe in the district.

Meanwhile, authorities are yet to establish what might have caused the fire accident at the facility.