Court Fines Man K1.2 Million for Possessing Illegal Drugs in Mangochi 

The Second Grade Magistrate’s Court in Namwera, Mangochi District, has ordered 30-year-old Ishmael Dickson to pay a fine of K1.2 million or serve one and a half years in prison for possessing illegal drugs.

According to the prosecution, represented by Sergeant Fraction Mlosola, police arrested Dickson on December 18 at Katuli Village in Traditional Authority Katuli, Namwera, while he was carrying the drugs in a backpack on his motorcycle.

The seized items included Amoxicillin, 100 injections, Indocid, Diclofenac, Salbutamol, peanuts and several other drugs.

Dickson admitted in court that he was not authorised to possess the drugs and pleaded for a lenient sentence.

However, the prosecution asked the court to impose a stiffer penalty, arguing that possessing drugs without a licence is dangerous and puts people’s lives at risk, especially since the accused is neither a doctor nor a medical professional.

In his ruling, Second Grade Magistrate Innocent Kondwani agreed with the prosecution and ordered Dickson to pay the K1.2 million fine or serve one and a half years in prison, while the drugs were confiscated and returned to the government.