A court in Zomba last week sentenced a 51 year old man to ten years imprisonment with hard labour on two counts of being found in possession of human tissues and selling or buying human tissues.
According to the State Prosecutor Sergeant Yohane Chaomba of Eastern Region Police Headquarters, the convict Friday Kasonga and three others were on 18th September, 2018 at Nsanama in Machinga district found with human bones extracted from human corpse without good or justifiable reasons contrary to section 224 A (b)(ii) of the Penal code.
Chaomba said the convict and his three accomplices were arrested by Traffic Police Officers as they were heading for Liwonde to look for a market contrary to section 224 A(e)(ii) of the Penal Code.
Their arrest led to the arrest of six others in connection to the case.
When they appeared before the Zomba Principal Resident Magistrate court, Friday Kasonga pleaded guilty to all the two counts leveled against him; while all his accomplices pleaded not guilty.
Following his own plea of guilty and the facts presented by the state, the court found him guilty and consequently convicted him.
In his submission before sentence, State Prosecutor Sergeant Chaomba prayed for a stiffer punishment to deter would be offenders considering that these cases including cases of killing of people with albinism for their body parts are rampant in Machinga district.
But in mitigation, Friday said that he is a bread winner for his family and asked for a lenient sentence.
Passing sentence, his Worship Principal Resident Magistrate Benedictus Chitsakamire concurred with the state on the need for a stiff punishment. He therefore sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour on first count of found in possession of human tissue and 10 years on second count of selling or buying of human tissues but the sentences are to run concurrently.
Friday Kasonga comes from Jalifu village,Traditional Authority (T.A) Kawinga in Machinga district.
Meanwhile, the case of his nine accomplices who pleaded not guilty will continue on 16th January, 2019 when the state is expected to parade witnesses.
