Online Reporter
Raiyen Sibanda
AN 18-YEAR-OLD A-Level pupil who swapped his books for a banned smoke landed in court after police reportedly found him with a tiny sachet containing a half smoked roll of dagga at school.
Cliffort Phiri of Promise Village in Badala, Inyathi, appeared before Inyathi Magistrate Challenge Mahembe, where he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of dangerous drugs.
The court heard that on 31 July 2026 at about 5pm, police received information that Phiri was in possession of dagga while at Somvubu High School.
Acting on the tip-off, officers searched the teenager and recovered one sachet containing what was suspected to be a half smoked roll of dagga.
The recovered substance was taken to Turk Mine Post Office where it was weighed in the presence of both the accused and police officers.
A weighing certificate produced in court showed that the suspected dagga weighed just 0,005g.
According to State papers, Phiri unlawfully and intentionally possessed the dangerous drug despite knowing that he was neither registered nor authorised to have it.
His guilty plea resulted in his immediate conviction.
Passing sentence, Magistrate Mahembe ordered Phiri to pay a US$300 fine on or before 5 September 2026.
If he fails to pay the fine by the deadline, he will serve six months in prison.
The court also imposed a separate six month prison sentence, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit another offence involving the unlawful possession, use, manufacture or dealing in dangerous drugs during that period.
