* He lost control of his vehicle due to overspeeding and hit a pedal cyclist who was carrying a female police officer as passenger
* The motorist Victor Mulusu fled the scene but was later apprehended by members of the community
Maravi Express
Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has convicted and ordered Victor Mulusu, 37, to pay a fine of K860,000 for violating road traffic regulations, contrary to Sections 126(4)(a), 124(a), 124(b), and 128(2)(a) of the Road Traffic Act.
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A report by Mangochi Police Station’s public relations officer, lnspector Amina Tepani Daudi, indicates that the Court heard from police prosecutor, Inspector Amos Mwase that on the evening of May 31, 2025, the convict was driving an Isuzu double cabin (registration 19 SC 39) from Mangochi ADMARC towards Mgundaphiri location within Mangochi Township.
“Due to overspeeding, he lost control of the vehicle, swerved to the nearside of the road, and hit a pedal cyclist heading in the same direction, who was carrying a female police officer as a pillion passenger.
“As a result of the impact, the police officer sustained soft tissue injuries to her right leg and arm and was treated as an outpatient at Mangochi District Hospital while the pedal cyclist escaped unhurt.
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“Mulusu fled the scene but was later apprehended by members of the community. A breathalyser test revealed he had 0.50g/ml of alcohol in his blood system,” says the report, adding that the Mulusu pleaded guilty in court, to all four charges, including driving under the influence of alcohol.
“In mitigation, he apologised to Mangochi Police management and the community, asking for leniency over his reckless behaviour. However, Inspector Mwase urged the court to impose a stiffer sentence, stressing that Mulusu’s dangerous actions could have resulted in the loss of innocent lives.”
Daudi reports that in his ruling, Senior Resident Magistrate, Muhammad Chande concurred with the state and imposed fines of K180,000 for reckless driving; K250,000 for failing to stop immediately after the accident; K250,000 for failing to ascertain the nature and extent of injuries; and K180,000 for driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances — totaling K860,000.
The court further suspended Mulusu, who paid the full amount in cash, from driving any motor vehicle on public or earth roads for 60 days.
According to the fine punishment of driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances, being found drunk in breath between 0.08-0.1g/210ml attracts K30,000; 0.11-0.13g/210ml (K60,000); 0.14-0.16g/210ml (K80,000); 0.17-0.2g/210ml (K100,000); above 0.2g/210ml (K200,000 or a term of 3 years imprisonment, and suspension from driving for a period of 1 year.
Meanwhile, Lilongwe traffic police arrested 35-year-old Thomson Bisayi for putting lives of people at risk after he used a 16-seater minibus to carry 37 passengers and bags of maize in Lilongwe on Monday, June 2.
Thomson Bisayi
A report by Malawi News Agency (MANA) quotes Lilongwe Police spokesperson, Hastings Chigalu saying Bisayi was driving a Toyota Hiace minibus heading to Lilongwe City and when he stopped at Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (ARET) where there was a police checkpoint, traffic police officers were incredulous to discover the 37 passengers.
Chigalu indicated that most of the passengers were standing to give each other space, thereby exceeding its carrying capacity with 21 more people.
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The police immediately impounded the vehicle and arrested the driver who is currently in custody pending to appear in court soon to answer applicable charges.
Lilongwe Police is urging passengers to be responsible and assist police in reducing road accidents by checking and valuing their own safety before boarding passenger service vehicles.—Reporting for MANA by Sheminah Nkhoma
