13 Fined for Not Wearing Face Masks in Limbe
The Senior Resident Magistrate s Court in Limbe has convicted and ordered Erick Chimpini, 26, and twelve others to pay K5,000 fine each for not wearing face masks in public.
The 13 were arrested on Wednesday at Chigodi Roadblock at Kachere Township along Limbe-Zomba road and were convicted on Thursday.
Sub Inspector Lewis Pharaoh, a prosecutor based at Limbe Police Station, told the court that police officers were working at the said roadblock where the 13 accused were seen in a minibus without wearing face masks.
Limbe Police Spokesperson, Sub Inspector Patrick Mussa, says the convicts “were immediately arrested and taken to Limbe Police and later charged with not wearing a mask in a public area contrary to Rule 20 (3) of Malawi Public Health (Corona virus and Covid-19) (Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules.”
January 21, 2021 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 16 Comments
Malawi Police in Lilongwe and Limbe have arrested 77 people over failure to wear face masks as part of Covid-19 preventive measures.
IG Kainja’s fate Wednesday
However, with such high numbers of suspects in police cells, questions are being asked if the suspects are safe in police cells as well.
In Lilongwe, police have arrested 64 people for not wearing face masks in public and running businesses outside the required time.
The arrest followed a special police operation in the city meant to monitor how people are observing Covid19 prevention measures.
According to Foster Benjamin, Deputy Public Relations Officer for Lilongwe police, the suspects did not put on face masks and that others are bar owners who opened bars before the ordered time.
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has said Sergeant Andrew Chigaga of Limbe Police Station who raped a 17 year old Polytechnic Student is on Court bail and the case is set to be back in Court on January 27, 2021.
This has been said in a progress report issued by MPS, signed by National Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent James Kadadzera.
According to Kadadzera, the victim was arrested by Chigaga on the night of December 12, 2020 in Limbe for idle and disorderly and was later brought into custody at Limbe Police Station.
âIt is alleged that Chigaga did not place the suspect in the cell but took advantage of the situation and raped her. It is further alleged that he released her unconditionally the same night,â Kadadzera said.