First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Balaka District has convicted and sentenced two men to pay a fine of K400,000 each or in default serve 13 months imprisonment with hard labour after being found in possession of petroleum products without a licence.
The two were arrested on Wednesday this week.
Publicist for Balaka Police, Gladson M’bumpha, has since identified them as Chisomo Allan and Samuel Luka.
In court, State Prosecutor Mercy Chande heard that the convicts, who are illegal fuel vendors at Manica in the district, were found in possession of 103 litres of petroleum products without a licence contrary to Section 42 of the Liquid and Gas Act.
The court further heard that the Covert Operation was disguised as the station’s routine Wednesday afternoon sports session, leading to the arrest of the two convicts.
The officers only received the signal to act while taking part in the Sports Session and caught the fuel vendors off guard.
Appearing before court, the two pleaded guilty to charges of being found in possession of petroleum products without a licence.
Chande asked the court to mete out a stiff punishment to the offenders so that illegal fuel vending is completely dismantled.
Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Augustine Mizaya concurred with the state’s submission and ordered the two to pay a fine of K400,000.00 each or in default serve 13 months imprisonment with hard labour to send as a detterent to other would-be illegal fuel vendors.
The two have since paid the fines while the petroleum products have been forfeited to the Malawi Government.
Chisomo Allan comes from Matola Village while Samuel Luka comes from Mpulula Village, all from Traditional Authority Nsamala in Balaka District.
