By Lucy Phiri
SELF-PROCLAIMED Patriotic Front Commander, Innocent Kalimanshi has been sentenced to twelve months imprisonment with hard labour for drug trafficking.After a magistrate sentenced him to one-year imprisonment with hard labour for trafficking in 2grammes of marijuana, Kalimanshi told journalists that just like Joseph in the Bible, the drug trafficking offences which were slapped on him were an act of betrayal from his inner circle.This is a matter in which Kalimanshi, Andrew Mende, Titus Phiri, Nkandu Mundubi, Melvin Sichinga and Emmanuel Mwape are accused of trafficking in Psychotropic substances of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Act no. 35 of 2021 of the laws of Zambia.However, Magistrate Stanford Ngobola only convicted Kalimanshi and Mende for drug trafficking.Magistrate Ngobola acquitted Kalimanshi of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and the other four co-accused who were accused of drug trafficking.The court said the four acquitted were found with no case to answer because none of them was found in possession of the drugs and that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence on the matter.Meanwhile, having served five months in jail already, Kalimanshi together with his five co- accused appeared in court all clad in American flag bandanas as face masks representing the team.Kalimanshi assured his wife who came to comfort him and supporters that they should not worry but be strong for he will be out soon.Magistrate Ngobola said that his hands were tied because there was over whelming evidence that the two had drugs in their possessions. “The offenses which the accused persons committed are very serious and carried a minimum sentence of 12 months and can go up to 25years,’’ Magistrate said.It is alleged that on August 23, 2021 at Lusaka, the accused trafficked in psychotropic substance namely, 95.3 grams of Cannabis, the product of cannabis sativa without lawful authority.Mende also trafficked in 36.0 grams while Kalimanshi on the same day trafficked 2.0 grams of cannabis.Kalimanshi was also charged with unlawful use of an unregistered Nissan Fairlady for purpose of committing an offence under the Narcotics Drug Act. He was however acquitted of the offence.
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