A day after the Second Grade Magistrate Maxwell Boaz fined Umali Jiya, 51, K95,000 for contravening traffic rules, the magistrate has today, December 4 fined seven other motorcyclists K85,000 each for similar charges in Balaka.
The seven are Daglas Lale, 42, and Richard Banda, 24, of Makunganya and Makwinja Villages respectively, both under Traditional Authority Kalembo while Peter Kainga, 38, and Kondwani Thangata, 22, hail from Mponda and Chiyembekedzo Villages respectively, both under Traditional Authority Nsamala, and John Ndaona, 45, from Kachenga Village, Sub Traditional Authority Kachenga. All the five convicts are from Balaka district.
The other two convicts, Owen Kankhonya, 35, and Geshomu Chiluwe, 22, come from Kakondwa Village, Traditional Authority Phambala, and Gumbi Village, Traditional Authority Makwangwala respectively, both from Ntcheu district.
The court heard through Balaka Police Station Prosecution Officer, Sub Inspector Gertrude Kafumbula and other prosecutors that the seven accused were on December 1 caught riding their uninsured and unregistered motorcycles without driver’s licenses.
The seven pleaded guilty to three counts leveled against them; driving a motorcycle without driver’s license, driving an uninsured motorcycle, and driving an unregistered motorcycle contravening Sections 18, 141 and 11 of Road Traffic Act respectively.
In submission, the state prayed for stiff penalties to teach them and others a lesson.
Passing judgement, magistrate Boaz ordered each of them to pay K30,000 for driving a motorcycle without driver’s license, K25,000 for driving an uninsured motorcycle, and K30,000 for driving an unregistered motorcycle or in default to serve 18 (eighteen) months IHL each. Some have since paid the fine while others are yet to pay.
Police reiterate asking motorcyclists to comply with traffic rules and regulations.
