The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has fined 48 people ranging from K5, 000 to K10, 000 for failing to comply with the recently gazetted COVID-19 regulations.

Senior Resident Magistrate Shyreen Chirwa who fined the convicts on Friday, said it is unfortunate that the accused disregarded preventive measures that were also meant to protect themselves.

Magistrate Chirwa added that government is losing a lot of money to fight the coronavirus pandemic and that the accused, who were arrested between January 18 and 21 this year at Area 3, Chigwirizano, Area 36, Falls and Malangalanga could have helped in the fight.

Commenting on the development, Lilongwe Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer Sergeant Foster Benjamin has commended the Court for the fines.

“They [accused persons] truly deserved such harsh penalties as they were a risk to the society since they could likely spread or contract coronavirus as they were walking around without face masks on,” said Sergeant Benjamin.

The convicts were found loitering without putting on masks and police arrested and charged them with contravening coronavirus and Covid-19 regulations, which is contrary to Section 20 (3) of the Malawi Public Health Act.

During their trial, the accused pleaded guilty as charged and whose ages are between 18 and 56, have since paid the fines.