Salima Court Fines Priest K300,000 for Causing Death by Reckless Driving
Published on September 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM by Edgar Naitha
A Salima District Court has ordered Paul Sonogo, a priest, to pay a fine of K300,000 or serve one year in prison with hard labour for causing death by reckless driving.
The court, through prosecutor Hunter Masamba, heard that Sonogo was driving an Isuzu vehicle from Mtakataka in Dedza District to Salima, accompanied by two passengers, Gift Balaka and Joseph Ndata.
Upon reaching an area called Katumba, Sonogo lost control of the vehicle, which subsequently overturned.
According to Masamba, Balaka sustained serious injuries and died on the way to the hospital.
Sonogo pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing that this was his first offence.
However, the prosecution opposed the plea, arguing that the accident resulted from reckless driving.
The court stated that the fine would serve as some solace to Balaka’s family.
