Livingstone man gets 6 months for trafficking marijuana

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marijuana
marijuana

A 22-YEAR-OLD car-washer of Livingstone has been sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour for trafficking in marijuana.
This is in a case in which Roy Sinkala of house number C-60 Linda township who was charged with trafficking in narcotic and psychotropic substances was appearing before the Livingstone Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on April 27, this year, in Livingstone, Sinkala had in his possession psychotropic substances, namely 43 grammes of marijuana without lawful authority.
On the material day, Sinkala was arrested by an officer from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) after a tip-off from members of the public who suspected him to be in possession of drugs.
The suspect was searched and found with suspected marijuana in his possession.
Later, the suspected marijuana was sent to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) where it was confirmed by a public analyst to be a product of cannabis sativa with a total weight of 43 grammes.
However, the suspect had no right to be in possession of the said drugs.
In mitigation, Sinkala pleaded with the court for leniency.
Handing down judgment, magistrate Benjamin Mwelwa said it was sad that people were giving all sorts of reasons for being in possession of marijuana.
He said that it was the duty of the court to bring the vice into check through punitive sentences.
“I have considered your mitigation and that you are a first offender that deserves some leniency. However, the offence that you have committed is very serious as it attracts up to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour,
“Therefore, I will send you to prison for a little while. I will send you to prison for six months with hard labour. You are thereby reminded of your right to appeal to the High Court if you are not happy with my sentence,” he said.

ZambiaDailyMail

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