Tanzanian man jailed in Malawi for possessing fake notes
The Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate court on Monday jailed a Tanzanian man to imprisonment for being found in possession of fake currency.
The man identified as Richard Chikuni 29, was found in possession of fake K1000 notes amounting to K7000 which is contrary to section 23 of the Reserve Bank Act.
The court heard that on 10 September 2012 Chikuni went to Third World Bar at Bwandilo in Area 47 in the city of Lilongwe to drink beer. He produced a K1000 note and purchased a bottle of beer and was given change. After some time he returned with another K1000 to purchase another bottle of beer which surprised the bar attendant Weston Luka because he did not use change he was given the first time.
This prompted Luka to report the matter to the owner of the bar Thokozani Billiat who noted that the K1000 notes had the same serial number and reported the matter to Area 47 police where Chikuni was arrested.
He was searched and found with four K1000 notes which had the same serial number LL 4675118 and a single K1000 note with the serial number LL1039155. The notes were taken to Reserve Bank of Malawi for verification where it was proven that they were fake.
Public Prosecutor Saddrey Sambo said the court should consider a stiffer punishment because such offenses are on the rise and they have never discovered where the fake currencies are produced.
This should be a lesson to those committing similar offenses.
Chikuni admitted the charge and said he did not know the notes were fake as they were given to him by one of the people he supplies clothes to as he sells clothes for a living in the city.
Making her ruling Chief Resident Magistrate Sara Beza sentenced Chikuni to 15 months imprisonment with hard labour for the offence committed.
