The First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Mzimba District has sentenced Pilirani Phiri, 45, Lyford Wagiwa, 32 and Stanely Mologeni, 33, varying fines for being found in possession of Cannabis without licence.
Magistrate Redson Gamaliel slapped Phiri with a fine of K300,000 or 4 years imprisonment while Lyford Wagiwa and Stanely Mologeni were both fined K200,000 each or 2 years imprisonment for being found in possession of the hemp without permits.
Police caught the trio after they disguised it as tomatoes on March 30, 2024 at Luviri while attempting to transport it to Lilongwe.
In court, they all pleaded guilty but asked for leniency since they are breadwinners and that they were misguided by other people who told them that the government had legalised hemp, not knowing they needed licences to possess the drug.
Phiri has paid the fine while the other two have failed to pay their fines and they will serve a custodial sentence.
