LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Senior Resident Magistrate’s (SRM) Court in Lilongwe on Friday, March 25, 2022 fined a Zimbabwean couple to a total fine of MK1 million and ordered their immediate deportation, for possessing dangerous drugs and damaging a banknote.
Malawi Police Central West Region’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Alfred Chimthere identified the convicts as Tinashe Mukarati, 36 and Melisha Jackson aged 43 who were found in possession of 215 millilitres of narcotic liquid cocaine at their residence in Area 43 on February 7, 2022.
Chimthere told the Maravi Post that court heard that in the process, the couple was also charged for wilfully damaging an MK1000 (one thousand) banknote bearing serial number CL 4846352.
The couple had rolled the note as a cigarette and used it to sniff the drug from a plastic bottle.
The police publicist added that in the court, state prosecutor based at Central West Region, Senior Superintendent Prescott Mwayiulipo, opined that the possession of dangerous drugs without licence is a serious offence under the laws of Malawi.
“In relation to the currency, he argued that the rolling of the banknote resulted into damaging both the stiffness and life span of the note without the authority, which is against the Reserve Bank Act.
“In mitigation, the duo explained that they are first offenders and that they showed remorse by pleading guilty. They told the court that they have been in custody on remand for 43 days and remained cooperative throughout the trial period, ” said Chimthere.
However, in passing the sentence, SRM Florence Msekandiana concurred with the state that the aggravating factors far outweigh the mitigation factors.
The police publicist adds; “She therefore fined them MK400 000 (four hundred thousand kwacha) each for possessing dangerous drugs, and MK100 000 (one hundred thousand kwacha) each for damaging a banknote, both fines for the culprits totalling MK1 000 000 (one million kwacha).
“The SRM has also recommended deportation of the convicts based on section 39 (2) of the Immigration Act.”
The convicts Tinashe Mukarati is reportedly a musician while Melisha Jackson is in hospitality industry, both hail from Zimbabwe.
