Two years in prison for illegal possession of medical equipment

The First Grade Magistrate court in Nkhata Bay has convicted and sentenced a 32-year-old Charles Mwamphashi, of Mkombanyama Village, Traditional Authority Mwaulambya in Chitipa District to 2 and half years in prison for illegal possession of medical products.

The State Prosecutor Isaac Imed on May 23, 2022, told the court that Mwamphashi was arrested on May 10, 2022 at Sanga Trading Center after he was found in illegal possession of 78 cartons of Malaria testing kit, each containing 25 pieces valued at half a Million Kwacha.

In court, the suspect pleaded guilty such that the court eventually convicted him.

In submission the prosecutor Imed prayed for a deterrent sentence saying that the stealing of the malaria kits was tantamount to killing.

Imed added that the suspect refused also to reveal to police investigators as to where he got the malaria kits.

In mitigation the legal aid practitioner, Chisomo Duke, who represented the suspect in court, said his client was the first offender and that the stolen items were recovered. He therefore prayed for leniency.

When passing sentence, magistrate Ezekiel Kamtikana concurred with the state saying his failure to reveal how and where he obtained the medical equipment reflects that the offence was organized.

The Magistrate then, sentenced Mwamphashi to 2 and half years in prison with hard labour to deter other would be offenders.