Man fined K1.4 million for killing listed species in Chikwawa

The Chikwawa first grade magistrate’s court on 25 May, 2021 sentenced Patrick Faindani, 38 of Gawani village Traditional Authority Chapananga  to pay fine of K1.4 million for killing listed species in Majete wildlife game reserve.

The court heard through prosecutor Sub Inspector Danford Otala that Faindani on 10 March, 2021 illegally entered into a protected area conveying weapons into the same area and killed a warthog using a muzzle loader.

In court Faindani pleaded not guilty to all counts which leveled against him and this prompted the state to parade four witnesses who testified against him.

In his submission prosecutor Otala prayed to the court to give him a stiffer sentence since he is a threat to the wildlife species and game reserve.

Otala further told court that the warthog was worth K1.4 million since the great loss to the game reserve.

In his mitigation Faindani asked court to consider him with a lenient sentence since he looks after an old mother, wife and two children.

When passing judgement First grade magistrate Gladstone Chilundu concurred with the state and ordered the convict to pay K50,000 in default to serve 12 months imprisonment with hard for the first count; to pay a fine of K1.4 million in default 24 months imprisonment with hard labour for the second count.

However the convict is yet to pay the fine and has since been sent to prison to serve his jail terms.