Court fines killer driver K1 million
The Mangochi First Grade Magistrate Court has ordered a 27 year old man to pay a fine of K1 million for causing an accident which resulted in the death of one person and hospitalization of eight other passengers.
Mangochi Police Station, Prosecution Officer, Inspector Efford Kamphonje told the court that on the afternoon of July 30, 2018, the accused was driving a 10 tonner Hino Ranger lorry registration number NU 5408 from the direction of Namwera heading Mangochi Boma with 200 bags of maize and 11 passengers on board.
“As he was descending Chowe Hills he hit a nearside road embankment due to speeding. As a result all passengers were thrown off board and some were buried under the loosened load,” said Kamphonje.
Kamphonje added that following the impact one passenger died on the spot while eight others sustained serious injuries.
The accused pleaded guilty to all charges laid against him as he contravened sections 35c, 126 and 237 of the road traffic Act.
In his submission before sentence, Kamphonje pleaded with the court to impose a stiffer penalty since the accused carried passengers on top of the goods disregarding the road safety rules.
When passing judgment, his worship First Grade Magistrate, Ronald M’bwana concurred with the state. He therefore ordered the accused to pay a fine totaling to K1 million, in default face a jail term of 36 months imprisonment with hard labour.
The accused, Rafik Alabeni hails from Saiti Kadzuwa Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.
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