Ten illegal miners fined K1 million in Monkey Bay
The Second Grade Magistrate’s Court in Monkey Bay has convicted and fined ten men K1 million for various mining offences in Lake Malawi National Park.
State prosecutor, Sub Inspector Ellias Chitsulo told the court that the accused, aged between 20 and 56, were found by officers from Lake Malawi National Park and Wildlife while mining rocks and loading in a 3 tonner vehicle registration number CK 7465.
Upon asking them about mining permits in the protected area, they all failed to produce any supporting document.
Appearing before Second Grade Magistrate Baxton Chikalimba, all the accused pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against them.
In his submission, Sub Inspector Chitsulo asked the court to give a stiffer sentence, saying the convicts knew that the area is a restricted one and the malpractice contributes to environmental degradation.
In mitigation, the convicts asked for leniency citing that they are bread winners in their families.
In his determination, magistrate Chikalimba concurred with the state for a stiffer penalty.
He therefore ordered the convicts to pay K100,000 fine for illegal entry into a protected area without permit or in default six months IHL, K250,000 fine for conveying weapons into a protected area without permit or in default 15 months jail term, K350,000 fine for mining in a protected area or in default 21 months IHL.
The court further fined the vehicle’s owner K300,000 or it would be forfeited to the government. All the convicts have since paid the fines.
Sergeant Alice Sichali,
PRO, Monkey Bay Police Station.
0881644989/0996888582