Neno hospital staffer fined K50 000 for beating up fellow

A member of staff at Neno District Hospital, Kondwani Namagonya, has by a hair’s breadth escaped a six year jail term after he was found guilty of assaulting a fellow member of staff.

Instead of the jail term, Namagonya paid a K50 000 fine.

According to court details, Namagonya beat up a junior staffer – Khumbo Sanjama – who had been gossiping that the former was a thief and had been stealing the institution’s property.

The defendant, court details showed, had called the complainant to his house where he beat him severely.

A medical report read out in the court by Second Grade Magistrate Daniel Dzoole, corroborated the severe beating details.

“The report indicates that the victim suffered nose bleeding and the Neno District Health Office referred him to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre. The report also indicates that the victim vomited clots of blood upon arrival at the referral hospital,” read magistrate Dzoole.

Namagonya pleaded guilty to the office which is contrary to Section 254 of the penal code.

According to rules and regulations of the civil service, one loses their job once convicted by a court of law.