Lilongwe First Grade Magistrate (FGM) sitting under Her Worship Lucy Beza mrs on 23rd January,2017 convicted and sentenced Mr. Mathews Zimba for attempting to externalize forex and found in possession of the same.
Court through state prosecuter S/Insp.Mary Photolaheard that Mr.Mathews Zimba ,46 yrs,from Village Longwe,Traditional Authourity Mzukuzuku in Mzimba holding a Malawian Passport Number MA194329 on 15 January,2017 at around 13 00hrs at Kamuzu International Airport’s forward lounge after been physically searched by Police Officers manning the point was illegaly found in possession of foreign currency and attempting to externalize the same .
The suspect was about to board a plane to South Sfrica on business trip with the said money without supporting documents.
Money and Passport seized as exhibits.
In his mitigation he said money was sent to him by his brother from south africa who is sick and was to be used as transport for him and come back with a sick brother to malawi for treatment.He is a local farmer and that he had no knowledge of other money procedures to be followed.Pleaded that he will never do such a thing again.Prayed that court considers him when imposing sentence because he has no any other means of finding money.
Then Her Worship Beza on 1st count sentenced him to a fine of k125000 ID 18 months IHL.2nd count possession of foreign currency (ZAR 7000).Sentenced to a fine of k50000 ID 10 months IHL.
ZAR7000 forfeited to the Malawi Government.