By NATION REPORTER
THE suspended sentence given to UPND’s Sesheke Member of Parliament, Romeo Kang’ombe is too lenient considering the gravity of the crime he committed, Zambia Republican Party president, Wright Musoma has said.
Mr Kang’ombe was on Monday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour but suspended for two years for assault and abduction of two police officers.
Mr Musoma however said the judgement was not in tandem with the offence committed.
He said if this was the route courts wanted to take then they would be the originators of confusion.
Mr Musoma said Mr Kang’ombe deserved stiffer punishment for abducting police officers because he was a lawmaker who was supposed to guard against lawlessness.
He said the public expected civility and maturity from Mr Kang’ombe, being a parliamentarian.
Mr Musoma said a person who could abduct police officers and assault them does not deserve a suspended sentence.
He said the courts were making a bad precedence which would make police officers prone to attacks from politicians. Mr Musoma said would-be offenders would not be deterred from committing crimes against police officers considering the judgement given to Mr Kang’ombe. “People are now going to think they can do what they want with the police or even abduct them but get away with it,” he said.
Mr Musoma said citizens expect the courts to send a strong warning to would-be offenders whenever they were giving judgment.
He said the police were there to protect all citizens and that they must not be left vulnerable to attacks by politicians.
Mr Musoma said the police would not execute their duties properly if they were not protected by the courts.
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