By Makokwa Clara Muyendekwa
A 17-YEAR-OLD Juvenile of Choma District has been found liable of selling marijuana to the public after his plea of guilty.
This is in a case where the juvenile offender stands charged with one count of trafficking in psychotropic substances contrary to the laws of Zambia.
According to the statement of offense, on 19th December this year in Choma, the juvenile is alleged to have been found in possession of 2.5 grams of marijuana without any lawful authority.
When called to take plea by state prosecutor Coilard Sikwalulwa before Senior Resident Magistrate Peter Mungala, the 17 year old pleaded guilty to the offense.
This compelled the court to record a plea of liable on behalf of the juvenile offender.
According to the statement of facts in the matter, on the material day, the officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) received information of a male person who was selling marijuana to the public.
After booking for an operation the juvenile who wanted to throw away the controlled drug upon seeing the officer from DEC was apprehended and a body search led to the recovery of one ball of marijuana.
The suspected marijuana was confirmed to be the same by the public health analyst at the national laboratory for Food and Drugs.
The state however applied for an adjournment in the matter to get a report from the social welfare department.
And Magistrate Mungala granted the adjournment and set December 29, 2021 as date for presentation of the social welfare report.
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