By LUCY PHIRI
ANOTHER lawyer in the matter involving National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader, Saboi Imboela has placed himself on defence following the absence of her lead lawyer, Ms. Melissa Phiri who is out of the country.
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Mr. Emmanuel Phiri told magistrate Sylvia Munyinya that he was placing himself on record because the accused’s lead lawyer was not present before the court to commence defence.
“Am putting myself on record and we cannot proceed today (Friday), we need to prepare for the defence. We are seeking an adjournment to allow the accused to continue with her defence,” Mr. Phiri submitted.
Imboela was found with a case to answer and was on defence.
Imboela, 45, of Lilayi pleaded not guilty to two counts of libel contrary to Section 191 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
And in her defence, Imboela denied defaming State House Chief Communication Specialist, Clayson Hamasaka, stating that he was not the only Hamasaka in the country.
Imboela told the court that she posted Hamasaka and not Clayson Hamasaka on her Facebook page called Saboi Imboela – SI.
She testified in her defence that she knows five Hamasakas’ in the United party for National Development (UPND) whom she will call to present their national registration card (NRC) before court for verification.
In response to the application, the state stated that they had no objection to the application to adjourn the matter.
And the court did not object to the application and adjourned the matter to November 17, 2023 for continuation of defense.
It is alleged that Imboela on September 9, 2022 with other persons unknown, with intent to defame, unlawfully did publish defamatory matters “against Clayson Hamasaka on a Facebook page called SABOI IMBOELA – SI stating that “his farm is being developed by the Chinese and is the character i said had permanent rooms and hotels, sleeping with women that want jobs in the UPND. You are the ghost terrorising women.”
It is alleged that on September 9, 2022, in Lusaka jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, with intent to defame, unlawfully did publish defamatory matters against Clayson Hamasaka on her Facebook page called SABOI IMBOELA-SI stating that “Hamasaka was caught red handed by the wife muchigololo, even as we speak marriage ili pama rocks, but somehow you want to play a personal war with me? We shall see who will regret.
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