Illegal medical drug peddler fined K300 000
The Magistrate’s Court in Chikwawa has ordered MacFord Robert to pay a K300 000 fine or in default serve 40 month jail term for possessing medical drugs without a license.
Robert, aged 42 was found guilty of two counts namely: being found in possession of medical drugs suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from the government hospital and being found in possession of medical drugs without license.
The court through State Prosecutor, Inspector Helix Kamkweche learnt that the convict was selling drugs at his house.
Following the information, on 25th January, 2018 police officers and officials from the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board busted on the convict’s house at Billiat Village in Traditional Authority Lundu’s area.
“The officers seized three boxes of LA tablets each containing 30 packs and one box containing cotrim tablets,” explained Kamkweche.
In his court appearance, Robert admitted the charge but asked the court to exercise leniency on him.
The state, however pleaded with the same court to impose a harsh sentence on the convict taking into account the gravity of the offence.
Prosecutor Kamkweche further argued that drug pilferage in the public hospitals was fueled by the conduct of the convict and that it was the poor who inherited the brunt of drug theft as they could not access free medical services in the hospitals.
In his ruling, First Grade Magistrate, Gladstone Chilundu concurred with the state, further observing that the convict was also putting lives of his customers at risk since he couldn’t render proper prescription.
He went on convicting the accused on two counts of being found in possession of medical drugs suspected to have been unlawfully acquired from government hospital and being found in possession of medical drugs without license.
In the first court, Robert was sentenced to pay a sum of K100, 000 or in default serve 40 months imprisonment while the second count earned him K200, 000 in fine or in default spend the next 40 months in jail. He has since paid the fine.
Robert comes from Billiat Village in the area of Paramount Chief Lundu in Chikwawa District.
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