By LUCY PHIRI
THE matter in which For- mer Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, his wife Mable and his sister-in-law Ruth Na- kaundi pleaded not guilty of using insulting language and obstruction has been set for January 17, 2022 for continuation of trial.
Chanda, His wife and his sister in-law appeared yesterday in the magistrate court before Chief Resident Magistrate Dominic Maka- licha only to be told that the matter would not take off.
The state told the court the matter could not take off due to Mr Chanda’s law- yer not being in court. The state applied for an adjournment to a later date as they were not ready to proceed.
Chanda was charged with one count of Using Insult- ing Language contrary to Section 179 of Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, and One Count of Obstruction Contrary to Section 63 (c) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 while Mrs. Chan- da and Miss Nakaundi are jointly charged with One Count of using insulting language and one Count of Obstruction.
Details in the first count are that Chanda on October 27, 2021, in Lusaka did allegedly use insulting language on three (3) ACC officers as they were exe- cuting their duties, conduct likely to give provocation to the named Officers so as to cause them to break the peace or commit an of- fence. In the Second Count, Mabel and Nakaundi, on October 27, 2021, in Lusa- ka, whilst acting together allegedly did use insulting language repeatedly on named officers of the Commission, conduct likely to give provocation to the offi- cers so as to cause them to break the peace or commit an offence.
Details in the third count are that the trio, on the same date did allegedly obstruct and delay officers of the Anti-Corruption Commission in the lawful exercise of their duty to search House No. 67, Elm road, Woodlands in Lusaka, when they stated that the keys to the bedrooms were with another person purported to have traveled out of town when in fact not.
The Court has set January 17, 2022 for continuation of trial and said police bond has been extended to the accused.
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