BY ROMINAH FAKA
The Magistrate Court has sentenced two individuals for consuming alcohol at the Central Market, breaching the Liquor Act.
The sentence was delivered by Principal Magistrate, Emily Zazariko Vagibule Pakoa on Wednesday this week.
Fred Masai, 19, and William Fomani, 25, were both charged with one count of Liquor not to be consumed in certain public places, contrary to section 65 of the Liquor Act and section 21 (a) of the Penal Code.
The maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of $20,000.
For Masai, a first-time offender, court imposed a fine of $400, which he had to pay on the noon of Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
Failure to pay the fine means he will serve 20 days imprisonment in default.
Fomani, on the other hand, has a history of similar offences thus received a harsher penalty.
This incident marks his fourth time being charged with the same offence of drinking in a public place.
Court had previously imposed a fine of $400, which is due this week.
Fomani, however informed court that he is unable to pay the fine.
As a result, the court sentenced him to six months imprisonment, noting that he had failed to learn from his previous punishment.
In addition, he will serve 20 days in default of the unpaid fine imposed on him for his previous conviction.
The court stated that this sentence is intended as deterrence, with the aim of rehabilitation and preventing similar behavior in the future, particularly public drinking at Central Market, a place where men, women and children come to sell and buy fresh produce.
The sentence also serves as a warning to the general public against consuming alcohol in prohibited public areas.
The incident occurred on June 4, 2025 at the Central Market.
A police officer on duty witnessed the two defendants and another individual drinking mixed kwaso, a locally brewed alcoholic drink from a V-Fresh bottle.
The officer approached and confiscated the bottle, which was found to contain kwaso.
At the Central Market police post, the third individual managed to escape, while Masai and Fomani were formally arrested and charged on the following day, June 5, 2025.
Able Maelanga appeared for the prosecution, while Bethsaida Kere represented the defendants.
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