Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:32:12 +0000
By Chikumbi Katebe
LUSAKA Chief Resident Magistrate Mwaka Mikalile has set September 15, 2017 as date for commencement of trial in the case of illegal drilling against UPND vice-president for administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and 19 others.
This was after the matter came up for mention but some of the accused persons were not present in court, which infuriated the magistrate after she had granted them bail.
The Magistrate said it was unfortunate that the only female suspect, Natasha Hamusonda, who was believed to be pregnant had continued to stay away from court despite her having pleaded for leniency to be allowed to be home instead of prison.
Only 14 suspects were present in court when the matter was called up, and notable among the absentees was the UNPD vice-president himself.
This was in a matter of unlawful drilling in which Mwamba and 19 others have been charged with carrying out illegal military training against the laws of Zambia.
And Ms Mikalile has warned suspects fond of missing court from tempting the court from taking decisive action against them.
The magistrate said it was unfortunate that Hamusonda has decided to repeatedly abscond from court when she earlier pleaded to be pregnant and in no condition to be in custody after she only returned to court on a bench warrant.
“I would like to warn the only female suspect (Hamusonda) that even after allowing her bail she had decided to abscond court sessions, I am afraid I will not be in a position to extend her bail next time,” she said.
She explained that last time, Hamusonda jumped bail on several occasions which prompted the court to issue a bench warrant which landed her in custody until she pleaded for leniency because of her pregnancy.
Earlier, defence lawyer Mr Sinkala of Simeza Sangwa made an application for an adjournment owing to the absence of some suspects from court including Mwamba owing to permission obtained from the previous court they had appeared.
But Ms Mikali reluctantly allowed for an adjournment despite not being privy to the subject brought before her by the defence.
Matter comes up on 15th September, 2017.
