High Court Judge Mzondi Mvula sitting as Chief Resident Magistrate sentenced 35 year old Steven Ching'anda to three months imprisonment with hard labour on first count of introduction of prohibited articles into the prison and two years for the second count of abuse of office.

Judge Mvula who was concluding the case he started before his promotion from the Chief Resident Magistrate Court concurred with the state that asked for stiffer punishment on grounds that the SIM cards have caused much damage to the society.

"Both sentences will run concurrently effective the date of his arrest," said Mvula.

Eastern Region Police Prosecutor, Asma Katete, earlier told the court that Airtel Malawi was going through its records to trace numbers which were involved in the fraudulent Airtel Money transactions.

Katete said following the exercise, the company discovered  that there was one identity card which was used to register 60 SIM cards, all showing that were being used inside Zomba Central Prison.

The court heard that Police found after their investigation that one Mphatso Milonde has been sending the SIM cards to her imprisoned husband Patrick Banda through the Prison warder Steven Ching'anda.