By ANDREW MUKOMA
THE Livingstone Magistrate’s Court has convicted and fined a-45-year-old truck drive, K10, 000 for importing more than 10, 000 bottles of benylin syrup into the country without authority.
This is in a case in which Kellys Katongo of Lilayi East, Lusaka, is charged with unlawful importation of medicine into the country.
On October 13, 2021, Katongo imported 10, 464 bottles of Benylin syrup which contains codine.
When the charge was read to him by Chief Resident Magistrate Chinkashi Chilingala, Katongo admitted the charge.
Magistrate Chilingala told him that the offense which he committed was avoidable if he had complied with the regulations set out in the importation of the medicines.
He said he had noted that Katongo has been in custody for almost a month from the date of his arrest.
“In view of considering the facts and all the aspects of the case, I hereby fine you K10, 000 or in default, you will have to serve nine months simple imprisonment,” he said.
In mitigation defence lawyer Anthony Bwalya of KBF asked the court to be lenient on his client as he is a first offender who has not wasted the court’s time and that of the investigators..
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