The Mangochi First Grade Magistrate Court on wednesday fined wellington maphuwa K150,000.00 or in default serve a 2 years imprisonment with hard labour for found with stolen 207 Farm Inputs Subsidy Program (FISP) coupons.
Mangochi police public relations officer Inspector Rodrick Maida said through state prosecutor Assistant Superintendent Efford Kamphonje the court heard that on November 18, 2019 at at Masuku Agora deport, the suspect wanted to buy subsidised farm inputs with coupons bearing Machinga district serial numbers.
“The said 207 coupons were urea (5), NPK (2), legumes (100) and cereal 100 being properties of malawi government,” Maida said.
Appearing before court, the suspect pleaded guilty to the charge levelled against him.
In mitigation the suspect asked the court for leniency saying he is the only bread winner for the family.
In his submission State Prosecutor Kamphonje asked the court for a stiff penalty saying the conduct of the suspect derails government efforts of fighting hunger in the country.
When passing sentence First Grade Magistrate Roy Kakutu concurred with the state and finally ordered the man to pay a fine of K150,000.00 or in default serve a 2 year jail term to deter would be offenders.
Wellington Maphuwa (39) comes from kambwiri village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwambo in zomba.
