Chitipa court sends 3 to jail for possession of fake US$30,100
Three men who were arrested for possession of fake US dollars in April have, on Wednesday, been sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour.
Mike Sichinga, 29, Godfrey Mwakifamba, 42, and Prince Mkandawire, 26, were arrested on April 20 and 22, 2022 in Chitipa district as they wanted to change the same into kwacha on the black market.
Police records show that they were found in possession of 301 fake US dollar notes in $100 bills, an equivalent value of US$30 100.
After a forensic analysis by the central bank, it was confirmed that the notes were fake.
Chitipa Chief Resident Magistrate (CRM), Paul Chiotcha, said, before sentencing the accused, that the crime was a well-planned affair with devastating economic repercussions to society had it been properly executed.
Reserve Bank of Malawi lawyer, Peter Masiye, who led the prosecution, said much as they were satisfied with the three years, they had prayed for a five-year jail sentence.
“But we believe that the three years is enough to act as a deterrent [to other would-be offenders],” said Masiye.
Sichinga comes from Mukule village in the Area of Traditional Authority Katumbi in Rumphi district, Mwakifwamba hails from Traditional Authority Kyungu in Karonga district while Mkandawire comes from Matola village in the Area of Traditional Authority Chindi in Mzimba District.
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