A MATTER in which former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo is allegedly facing three counts of attempting to interfere with a witness has failed to take off at the Lusaka magistrate court.
In this matter, Lusambo was supposed to commence his defense as the court had earlier found him with the case to answer.
But before the matter could commence, one of his Lawyers Mr. James Tembo informed the court that Lusambo’s surety informed him that he was unwell and could not stand trial.
Chama South Member of Parliament, Mr. Davison Mung’andu, 43, was on stand and informed the court that he was informed yesterday that Lusambo was seeking medication at WHB medical Centre in Olympic Manda Hill Road, Lusaka.
“Knowing that his supposed to appear today, I rushed there to verify. Indeed, Mr Lusambo appeared to be in an extremely distressed situation, he has severe flu and other medical complications. The doctor has put him on bed rest and treatment from 29 to 31 of this month and supposed to appear on June 1 for review. I requested for a medical report which i have in my possession,” he said.
Mr. Tembo then applied for the matter to be adjourned to enable the accused recover.
“In our view, the reasons for this application are sufficient and we pray that the application be granted in the interest of Justice,” he submitted.
And state Prosecutor Mr Daniel Ngwira said he had no objection to the application of adjourning the matter.
Meanwhile in another court room, Chief resident magistrate Davies Chibwili has allocated a new matter involving Lusambo to himself where is facing two counts of Possession of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section 71 of the Forfeiture of proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010.
The court was informed that he was unwell to take plea.
Previously, Lusaka magistrate Faides Hamaundu had rejected an application made by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to add more charges to Lusambo in a matter is jointly charged with his wife Nancy Manase.
This was after state prosecutor Mr. Daniel Ngwira made an application to substitute the indictment by adding two more counts to the ten the accused persons are already facing.
However, Magistrate Hamaundu sitting under the Economic and financial crimes court rejected to the state’s application stating that it cannot add more counts to the matter which already started and witnesses already testified.
When the matter came up yesterday, the ACC brought the two counts they wanted to add to the matter but Lusambo could not take a plea.
It is alleged in count one that on a date unknown but between May 1, 2015, and December 31 2021 in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown did possess property number F/609/E/44/B/9, comprising of a single storey four (4) bedroom dwelling house, guest wing, gazebo and a car shed located in Chamba Valley-Lusaka, property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
In court two, it is alleged that Lusambo on a date unknown but between May 1, 2015 and 31 December 2021 in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown did possess an incomplete block of six (6) flats, constructed on property number F/609/E/50 in Chamba Valley Lusaka, properties reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.
