Malawi man convicted for failure to stop for VP Kachali’s motorcade

Lilongwe magistrate court has sentenced a 42- year -old man, Frackson Soko to four months imprisonment with hard labour for failing to stop for  vice  president Khumbo Kachali’s motorcade.

The offence, according to state prosecutor Assistant Superintendent Damiano Kaputa is contrary to section 123 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA).

Kaputa told the court that Soko, who by the time he committed the crime was driving a motor vehicle registration number DZ 3251 saloon, Peugeot, overtook the vice president convoy by driving his vehicle in the middle of the road at Mubza FP school at Area 25 in Lilongwe.

“The traffic officer who was on duty stopped the vehicle to which the driver complied. However the driver escaped abandoning his vehicle which was later taken to Lilongwe police station,”Kingsley Dandaula said.

“This followed police investigations to trace the driver of the vehicle. Subsequently, he was located and brought to Lilongwe police station where he was charged with three offences under the RTA,” Daundaula added.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence but asked the court to be lenient in its judgment since he was looking after orphans and his sick old parents who rely on him constant financial assistance.

However, the state prosecutor asked the court to give a stiffer punishment to the accused to caution future offenders and thereby signaling a warning to drivers.

In passing his sentence, his worship Boswell Kamphonda said the accused person was supposed to respect the convoy since it was carrying the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi.

Considering the nature of the offence, the courts slapped a K10, 000 fine on the accused or in default serve a two-month jail sentence with hard labour on the charge.

The courts further went on to convict Soko of reckless driving contrary, to section 126 of the RTA and of failing to take the motor vehicle to police contrary to section 8(0) of RTA to which.

He was fined K5, 000 or in default to serve one month imprisonment on each charge.

However, the accused failed to pay the fines and was consequently sent to Maula prison to serve a four- month imprisonment sentence with hard labour.

The convict hails from Mabena Village, T.A Njolomole in Ntcheu District.

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