The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced Mark Yusuf, 31, to three years imprisonment with hard labour for being found in possession of forest produce without a permit, valued at K22.3 million.
During court proceedings, Prosecutor Sub Inspector Davie Katandika informed the court that on April 30, 2025, a team of Mangochi Police officers conducting day patrols received a tip-off that the convict was offloading bags of charcoal at his compound.
Acting on the information, the officers proceeded to the identified house where they discovered 212 bags of charcoal and 27 pieces of timber. The Department of Forestry was immediately alerted and joined the police in the operation. The forest produce was seized, and convict was taken into custody.
Appearing in court, the convict pleaded guilty to the two counts levelled against him and asked the court for leniency, citing family responsibilities and business loss.
In his submission, Prosecutor Katandika highlighted that such wanton acts contribute significantly to climate change. He further noted that deforestation leads to habitat destruction, threatens biodiversity, and disrupts ecosystems, thereby pleaded for a custodial sentence.
In his ruling, Senior Resident Magistrate Muhammad Chande agreed with the state, stating that the charcoal trade undermines forest restoration efforts by the Forestry Department and its partners in the district. He sentenced Yusuf to three years imprisonment with hard labour to serve as a deterrent to others.
Additionally, the court forfeited all 212 bags of charcoal and 27 pieces of timber to the Malawi Government.
Yusuf hails from Chomba Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.
Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi
Public Relations Officer
Mangochi Police Station
Cell: 0999 706 525
Email: amina.tepani@police.gov.mw
Website: www.police.gov.mw