Cop did not die ‘defecating charcoal’: Man who spread ‘fake news’ slapped with K100 000 fine
Karonga First Grade Magistrate’s court Monday slapped 34-year-old man, Palisha Swira, with a K100,000 fine or in default spend 12 months imprisonment with hard labour for faking a story that alleged a police officer had died ‘defecating charcoal’ after confiscating bags of charcoal from a trader at Songwe Border post.
Karonga police deputy publicist Frank Black said in a statement that Swira’s misdemeanor caused fear and alarm to the public peace.
The court, through state prosecutor sub-inspector Alfred Chidzere, heard that on January 2, 2020 Swira produced an audio about the death of sub-inspector Michael Mwangomba, popularly known as Mike, which had gone viral on social media.
Swira alleged that late Mwangomba confiscated two bags of charcoal from a certain man at Songwe Border.
In the audio, the accused further alleged that officer Mwangomba was bewitched and he was defecating charcoal.
In his court appearance, Swira pleaded guilty to the charge. The state also asked the court to play the audio to which the court did not object.
In submission, the state prayed for a stiffer sentence arguing the convict’s conduct created fear and alarm not only to the deceased family but to the police as a whole.
However, Swira, in his mitigation, pleaded for a lighter sentence saying he is a sole bread winner for his family and looks after his aged mother.
In his determination, First Grade Magistrate Julius Kalambo concurred with the state on the need for a stiff penalty since the offence indeed brought fear and alarm to the public.
However, he observed that while such an offence attracted a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment with hard labour, Swira would be pitied upon since he was a first time offender.
Magistrate Kalambo then asked Swira to pay a K100,000 fine or in default serve twelve months in prison, to which Swira preferred the former.
He hails from Naolondo Village, Traditional Authority Mwaulambia in Chitipa District.
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So what happened? Provide the truth of the matter .what killed him? Did he confiscated and die without defication of charcoal?
This doesn’t make sense. What about those who said Peter was dead during the campaign,.
But why publishing such false news without verification Media has to be punished too. This means some of the news we get are fake? Poor reporter. Shame on you
Nyasa Times, trust me you would also be made to pay had it Ben thy you were also sued for the way you covered the incident.
Am hoping you learnt something.
I did not hear it from the audio, I read it from the media. What about media houses that rush to public news without verifying?
What about the politicians who instil fear in us about terrorist, alshabab or someone wants to take over the govt by force, fake news but spared , why? No true justice.
Izizi ndiye mumathamangitsa…..nanga za Nsundwe Repes, za MK145m, za ma Alubino, Njaunju, Chasowa etc zija bwanji?
This is very good development for our country. People who spread unfounded stories particularly relating to witchcraft and especially when the stories seem to promote deforestation should be dealt with severely. Kudos to our police and the court!
Koma nanga zinazi bwanji amwene???
Stupid, you think this brings fear to the public unlike the Msundwe saga, we want Msundwe incident to conclude not petty issues like this of charcoal
Ah 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Did anyone believe this story in the first place?
So, what happened to the charcoal the cop defecated? Can we use it?