John Mussa, a 19 year old teen who was arrested and convicted for being found in possession of Indian hemp locally known as Chamba will now have to spend three years in jail after his custodial sentence was reduced from eight years.

On June 15, 2022 Mussa was arrested after he was found with 78 plastics of Chamba and was sentenced to eight years few days later a development which attracted mixed reactions from different stakeholders.

Yesterday, High Court judge Vikochi Chima made the ruling following a review of case files from the magistrate court which served Mussah with the 8 year jail term.

As hopes were that Mussah will be released from prison, all was shuttered as his custodial sentence was on reduced.

Mussa John’s mother broke into tears after the high court ruling that sent him back to Chichiri prison to serve a three-year-jail term for his case.

One of his lawyers, Chikondi Chijozi, said they will appeal the ruling which has slashed the initial jail term from eight years to three.

Young sympathizers including hip-hop artist, Fredokiss, and Bright Chiligo of Mikozi were at the court in solidarity with Mussah.