UPND cadres in court for possession of offensive weapons

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:14:24 +0000

By JUSTINA MULENGA

FOUR UPND cadres have appeared in the Magistrate Court on charges of being in possession of offensive weapons including arrows, 2 plastics of potassium permanganate and 1 plastic bottle of glycerine.

The four accused are Remmy Mukoba, Martin Muchindu, Fabian Mwanza Lubona, and Kelvin Mwansa Mupulisa who appeared before Magistrate Silvia Munyinya pleaded not guilty to the charges laid against them.

The four were arrested by police on 26th April, 2017 near the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court Complex who alleged that the suspects were in possession of material considered dangerous under the laws of Zambia.

Earlier, the Court had ordered police through the Kabwata officer-in-charge to issue the suspects with medical reports over allegation of torture while in police custody.

The suspects had accused police officers of brutality that they were tortured and subsequently charged with the offence of being in possession of offensive weapons when, in fact, it was not true.

But Kabwata police criminal investigative officer (CIO) Gershom Mwila explained to court that while he was aware of the court order for the medical reports, but that the four suspects were un-cooperative to his office resulting in his referring them to the officer in-charge.

He told the court that he did not refuse to issue the medical reports but merely directed the four to the officer in-charge who could do that following their unbecoming behaviour.

Magistrate Munyinya has since reserved ruling for 12th July, 2017 on the court order and set dates 24th and 25th July 2017 for commencement of trial. Bail for the four suspects has since been extended.