The Chisenjere First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Blantyre has ordered 10 people to pay a fine of K50,000.00 each or in default serve a six months jail term for operating liquor businesses without license or permit in Machinjiri- South Lunzu areas.
Isaac John and his nine accomplices were arrested on October 20, 2022 following a tip-off from well wishers.
State prosecutor Sergeant Gift Sumaili of South Lunzu Police Unit told the court that police has been receiving reports that some people are selling liquor without time limitations and were suspicious if at all have licenses to validate that.
Sumaili said working on those reports, South Lunzu Police Officers organised an operation on the said day and rounded them up.
When asked to produce business permits, they all failed to do so forcing police to arrest them.
The exercise was conducted in areas 5,6,10 and 11 in South Lunzu-Blantyre
Appearing in court, they pleaded guilty but asked for leniency saying they are first offenders.
But in submissions, prosecutor Sumaili pleaded with the court to mete out a stiff sentence saying the noise inconveniences the business operators brought to their neighbors in the areas especially during night hours was too much adding that doing business without license is punishable by law.
Making the determination, Magistrate George Chimombo concurred with the prosecutor and ordered the convicts to pay K50,000.00 fine each or in default serve a 6 months jail-term with hard labour.
