The Blantyre Chief Resident Magistrate Court has sentenced upcoming musician James Kamthumba, also known as Born Chris, to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour, but the sentence has since been suspended to 480 hours of community service at Ndirande Health Centre.

This comes after he was found guilty of insulting the modesty of a woman -fellow musician Bertha Lomoti, famously known as Queen B.

Born Chris was arrested by Police following a complaint from Queen B that her modesty had been put to shame in the face of the public through a song done by the accused.

Appearing before the Blantyre Chief Resident Magistrate court Wednesday, the court found him guilty following his own plea.

During the court session, Police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent Boyson Yamungo, pleaded with the court that despite being a first offender, Born Chris deserved a stiffer punishment because his attitude brought disrespect to women in the country.

“Women deserve to be accorded with the respect they deserve,” Yamungo bemoaned.

Taking into consideration the mitigating factors raised by the accused that he is still in school, Chief Resident Magistrate Simeon Mbeza said giving him a custodial sentence would doom his future as he may not have access to education.

The Magistrate then sentenced the accused to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour, but suspended the sentence to 480 hours of community service at Ndirande Health Centre.