Court fines man for using uncertified scale

 Salima Magistrate’s Court has fined Damiano Mandevu K170 000 for buying farm produce using uncertified scale and without a valid licence.

State prosecutor Wenford Mawindo told the court that the convict was arrested on April 12 at Chendekachithatha Village, Traditional Authority Kambwiri in the district.

In court, Mandevu pleaded guilty to both charges, but prayed for leniency, saying he is a breadwinner and did not know where Malawi Bureau of Standards offices were located in the district to get his scale certified.

But Mawindo prayed for a stiffer punishment, saying farmers are duped of their produce through uncertified scales.

He also said the convict flouted some procedures for his business as he was supposed to get a licence first and get the scale

certified.

In his ruling, first grade magistrate Anthony Banda dismissed the mitigating factors and warned Mandevu to adhere to government’s farm gate regulations.

He, therefore, fined Mandevu K120 000 or in default spend three months in jail for buying farm produce using uncertified scale and K50 000 or spend two months in jail for buying  

 farm produce without a licence.

Damiano has since paid the K170 000 fine.

Three weeks ago, the Ministry of Agriculture released farm gate prices with the minimum price for maize set at K500 per kilogramme (kg), a K220 rise from the 2022 price.

Soya is selling at K800 per kg while polished rice is at K1 000 per kg