The First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Dowa has sentenced a 24-year-old man to 3 years in prison for being found in possession of bags of cannabis. 

The court through state prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Banda heard that the convict Mike Ruben committed the offence on March 8, 2021 at Nalunga Trading Centre after being found in possession of four bags of cannabis weighing 80 kilograms.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded guilty to a charge of found in possession of Indian Hemp without a licence.

In his submission, state prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Banda asked the court for a stiff punishment to send as a warning to other would-be offenders, though the convict is a first offender.

Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Amran Phiri concurred with the state’s submission and sentenced the offender to three years imprisonment with hard labour as a warning to other would-be offenders.

Mike Ruben comes from Mphate Village in the area of Traditional Authority Njolomole in Ntcheu District.