BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The High Court in Blantyre through Justice Vikochi Chima on Tuesday July 12, 2022 adjourned to July 22, 2022 a case in which a 19-year-old boy Mussa John wants the court to review his conviction and sentence for possessing Indian hemp, locally known as Chamba.
The sentence review follows an application by lawyers representing John who argue that was given an excessive custodial sentence considering the current trend sentences on similar cases.

The lawyers further argue that the convict is aged 17 and not 19 as recorded in the lower court.
However, on the sentence, the state through Gift Nsume agreed with the applicant that the 8-year sentence was too harsh but was quick to say that the convict deserves a custodial sentence.
While on the age, Justice Chima directed the convict through his lawyers that there should be a new application if the convict’s age of 17 should be considered in the affidavits as currently the records show that he is 19 years old.
He said the application should be submitted to the court by July 14, 2022 and the state should respond by July 18,2022 before the judgement delivered.
Mussa was arrested on June 15, 2022 in Blantyre’s Kachere Township for being found in possession of Indian hemp weighing 134 kilograms without a license.
He was then slapped with 8-year jail term by Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Limbe on June 24,2022.