Malawi court jails woman over cocaine: Linda Chinula to serve 3 years jail

A 23 year old woman Linda Chinula who was  stopped at  Kamuzu International Airport (KIA for allegedly importing two kilogrammes of cocaine  —has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL).

Chinula was jailed after  she was found guilty  by the Lilongwe Senior Residence Magistrate court on Tuesday.

She was charged with illegal importation of dangerous drugs is an offence under Section 11(a) as read with Regulation 19 of Dangerous Drug Act.

Chinula was arrested on Friday, upon disembarking from an Ethiopian Airlines flight, following a tipoff.

Police  found the contraband concealed in one of her hand luggages.

Assistant Commissioner of  police, Napier Chafikana, prosecuting ,  asked the court  for an immediate custodial sentence  despite that she  is “the first offender and admitted the crime.”

Chinula asked for leniency during mitigation claiming she has a three year child, three orphans and her mother who depends on her.

Senior resident magistrate Shyreen Yona  told a tearful  Chinula that she was a  courier of drugs  and that is a serious offence.

She then sentenced Chinula  to three years Imprisonment with hard labour for importation of drugs and two years for being found in possession of dangerous drugs but said the sentence will run concurrently with no optional of a fine.

Yona said the  jail term “should serve as a warning to others.”

Chinula—a Lilongwe based businessperson—comes from Lambalamba Village, Traditional Authority Chindi, Mzimba.

Meanwhile, the exhibits and the black hand language bag used to carry the drug were immediately burnt in view of the prosecutor Chafikana, Police officers, court Officials and the Senior Residence Magistrate  Yonah.

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