A magistrate court sitting at Dwangwa in Nkhotakota yesterday sentenced Yesaya Quoto 24, to 12 years imprisonment with hard labor for possessing K575,000 counterfeit currency of K5,000 notes at Dwangwa trading center.

Central East Police Region prosecutors, Sub Inspector Thoko Juziwel and Sergeant Edwin Wala told the court that Quoto was arrested on March 28, 2022, when he was trying to make a money transaction through TNM Mpamba to Ketrina Chiphwanya who is an Airtel Money Agent at Dwangwa trading center.

The court also heard that a police raid at Quoto’s shop at Kande in Nkhatabay led to the seizure of gadgets that were suspected to have been used for a money manufacturing syndicate.

The accused pleaded guilty to three counts of illegal possession of counterfeit currency notes contravening section 366, unlawful possession of implements for forgery contravening section 374(b), and forgery of currency notes contravening section 357 of the Penal Code.

First Grade Magistrate Kingsley Buleya, therefore, slapped the convict with a 4-year custodial sentence on the first and second count and 12 years for forgery of currency to run concurrently.

Yesaya Quoto hails from Mwerekete Village, Traditional Authority Mthwalo in Mzimba District.