The Chisamba Magistrate Court has fined a 35-year-old man K1,000 or, in default, nine months simple imprisonment, for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Resident Magistrate Susan Magalashi convicted Kenneth Phiri of Mwomboshi area of Chisamba and fined him after he admitted the charge.

The incident occurred on December 27 of last year, when the accused, Phiri, willfully and unlawfully assaulted Chrispin Kabwe, thereby causing him actual bodily harm.

Facts are that on the day in question, the complainant, Chrispin Kabwe, was at approximately 15:00 hours playing pool at a certain shop when the accused suddenly approached him, and without provocation, grabbed a pool stick and struck him resulting in a deep cut and bleeding.

“It was on 27th December, 2025 at 15:00 hours when the complainant Chrispin Kabwe was playing pool at a shop when Kenneth Phiri, now the accused, suddenly came. Without excusing himself, he grabbed a pool stick and hit the complainant on the head,” facts read in part.

The court heard that the complainant, who was bleeding from an injury, ran away and was met by a woman on his way who tended to his wound.

Following a report by the complainant, the accused was arrested and cautioned by police at Chisamba Police Station, where a medical report was also issued.

After a caution and warning statement was administered to the accused in Nyanja, the language he best understood, he admitted the charge.

Following the accused’s guilty plea and his admission that the statement of facts was true and correct, Magistrate Magalashi found him guilty of the subject offence, contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code, and convicted him accordingly.

Phiri pleaded for leniency, stating that he has four dependant children and a mother, all of whom would be without a caretaker if imprisoned.

“I have heard your mitigation and I have taken into account that you are a first offender who has readily admitted the charge. Having that said, the offence of assault you committed carries a maximum sentence of five years or a fine because it is a misdemeanor, ” Magistrate Magalashi said.

Magistrate Magalashi sentenced him to a fine of K1,000 on or before January 13, 2026, in default, he will serve nine months’ simple imprisonment.

The accused is currently in lawful custody.