Two people handed 30 months jail sentence for destroying forest produce
Published on February 2, 2021 at 8:36 AM by Robert Ngwira
The Dowa First Grade Magistrate’s Court on Monday convicted and sentenced two people to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour each for the offence of destroying forest produce contrary to Section 12 of the newly amended Forest Act.
The convicts have been identified as Posiyano Wayinodi aged 21, and Mwayiwawo Lemekezani, aged 32, both from Namazunda Village in the area of Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa District.
The court through two state prosecutors Sub Inspector Agnes Mphinga and Sub Inspector Ezra Bakili heard that the convicts committed the offence on January 8 2021 at Kongwe Forest Reserve in the district.
The two state prosecutors further told the court that the damaged trees are valued at K760 000.00.
Appearing before court, the convicts pleaded guilty to charges of destroying forest produce.
In his ruling, First Grade Magistrate Amran Phiri sentenced the two to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour each as a warning to other would be offenders.