Rwandan fined K1.2mil by Malawi court for reckless driving

The Mangochi First Grade Magistrate Court has slapped Rukundu Amiabo, 25, with a K1.2 million fine or in default spend eight years Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) for driving recklessly contrary to section 126(1)4(b) of the Road Traffic Act.

According to the Deputy Public Relations Officer (DPRO) for Mangochi Police Station, Amina Tepani Daudi, on May 27, 2017 at around 19:00hrs, the accused person was driving a Toyota Hilux pick-up registration number BS 3707 from the direction of Mangochi Boma heading to Monkey-Bay with six passengers on board.

“Upon arriving at Saint Augustine 3 Full Primary School and due to over speeding, the driver hit a pedal cyclist who was cycling the opposite direction with a pillion passenger,” said Daudi.

According to Daudi, six passengers fell down from the moving motor vehicle together with the cyclist and the pillion passenger. They all sustained deep cuts and multiple bruises and were rushed to Mangochi District Hospital for treatment.

The accused (driver) pleaded guilty as charged and in his mitigation he begged for leniency from the court but the prosecutor pleaded for a stiffer penalty.

Passing judgment, First Grade Magistrate Ronald M’bwana concurred with the state saying the accused did not follow road safety rules hence slapped him with a K1.2 million fine or in default serve 96 months IHL.

Ruhundu hails from Rwanda but currently resides at Ntanga Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chimwala in Mangochi where he is also doing business.