In court, Thyolo Police State Prosecutor Sub-Inspector, Felix Senzani, said the three, committed two offences of moving farm animals without permit, and animal cruelty of which they all pleaded guilty to.

Magistrate Kondani Chinangwa then sentenced the three, Joseph Matabwa, Kalusa Makokola and Christopher Tebulo who were intercepted on Wednesday last week at Planters Tea Agency (PTA) police checkpoint while packed the goats in two pick-up vehicles.

After considering all factors presented in court by both sides, Magistrate Chinangwa ordered them to pay a fine of K100, 000 each in default, serve a one-year jail term for the first count and K150, 000 fine in default, another one-year imprisonment for the second offense.

Magistrate Chinangwa further ordered the owners of vehicles which used to commit the crimes to pay a fine of K100, 000 each.

Meanwhile, Blantyre ADD Programmes Manager, Patricia Mayuni, told Zodiak Online on Saturday that the sentence will send shockwaves to others who may wish to violate animal movement regulations, adding that "some areas such as, Phalombe and Shire Valley are still endemic to Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMD)".

Mayuni said since the FMD ban is still in effect in Phalombe and Lower Shire districts, animal movement is restricted to slaughter not for rearing.

"The sentence sends a good message to other people who violate livestock movement regulations because if someone does not have permits you don't know where they got those animals from," she said.