Tue, 13 Jun 2017 13:55:46 +0000
By Chikumbi Katebe
A STATE witness has testified in the High Court that former Commissioner of Police, Fanwell Siandenge was the mastermind of the criminal operations that resulted in the violent attacks at the Electoral Commission of Zambia against some elections officials outside the Zambia Airforce base at City Airport.
Zambia Police Senior Superintendent Arthur Shonga testified before High Court Justice Dancewell Bowa yesterday that apart from being seen on the scene of the crime, Mr Siadenge was in constant communication with all the suspects charged with the attacks of August 14, 2016 as indicated in the call records obtained from MTN and Airtel mobile service providers.
He said all investigations in connection with the ECZ attacks have shown that the former Commissioner of Police was involved in the assault against three Copperbelt returning officers who were delivering presidential election materials shortly after their arrival at the Longacres’ ZAF City Airport.
“I was handed an Alcatel phone that was recovered from the crime scene and a bunch of keys that was picked from one of the vehicles, which phone records indicated constant communication with the ComPol.
“And right there and then, the Alcatel phone started to ring and indicated that ‘ComPol Siandenge” was calling. Compol is an electronic shortcut for Commissioner of Police,” he said.
Mr Shonga explained that eye witnesses have also attested to the presence of Mr Siandenge at the scene of the crime around the ECZ car park, that he was a passenger in a black BMW that was driven by Mr Mwaliteta, which was seen hovering around the area.
Mr Shonga said one of the Zambia Police officers, a Mr Phiri, who was attached to ECZ security also reported that among the people he recognised around the area were Mr Mwaliteta and Mr Siandenge. Five suspects yesterday appeared in court charged with three counts of criminal trespass, assault and aggravated robbery when on 14th August 2016 in Lusaka jointly and whilst acting together stole a handbag and cash worth K350 from Elina Nyirenda and threatened violence to overcome her. The five included former Lusaka Province Minister and Kafue Member of Parliament Obvious Mwaliteta, Evans Mukobela, Emmanuel Mumbai, Laswell Phiri and McMillan Shimukonka who appeared before Justice Bowa.
Mr Shonga told the court that police were still looking for Mr Siandenge who has been on the run for over one year since the incidence last year.
Earlier, Mr Shonga told the court that he received a report of the incident around 12:30hours on that material day and on arrival at the scene, he found three victims who complained of having been pepper sprayed and general body pains after their ordeal.
He explained that the incident which occurred outside the ZAF airbase showed that the ECZ vehicle had been blocked from the front and the rear, and according to the victims, they were dragged out of the vehicle after being pepper sprayed at close range.
Other than the handbag and K350 that was reported missing, Mr Shonga explained that another victim complained of being pepper sprayed and that he also lost a Blackberry mobile phone valued at K4,000. And murder suspect and lead lawyer in the case, Keith Mukata, has since been replaced by Anthony Kasolo together with legal counsel Keith Mweemba in the matter. According to police, one person who was said to have been in constant touch with Mr Siandenge according to phone records was one Fred Hamaamba, but who was not among the suspects.
