By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
THE case in which former Information and Broadcasting Services minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha is charged with abuse of authority
yesterday failed to take off because one of his co-accused is unwell.
Defence lawyer Charles Lisita informed the court when the matter came up for continued trial yesterday that freelance journalist Chanda Chimba III was unwell and, as such, the matter could not proceed.
Shikapwasha, who is MMD Keembe member of Parliament (MP), is jointly charged with Chimba and his former permanent secretary Sam Phiri.
They are charged with abuse of authority of office, unlawful publication and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of a crime. The offences were alleged to have been committed in 2011.
However, when the matter came up yesterday before magistrate Obister Musukwa, the State informed the court that it was ready to proceed with trial but had noticed that Chimba was not before court.
At this point, Major Lisita informed the court that his client was unwell and was undergoing treatment at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Chimba also sent one of his sureties Judith Mulenga Chatah with a sick note for 10 days off which she presented to the court.
Major Lisita further informed the court that his client would be undergoing quite a lengthy period kind of treatment as such he would from time to time not be available.
Mr Musukwa adjourned the case to October 13, 2015 for continuation of trial, saying illness was inevitable.
Meanwhile, Lusaka lawyer Nelly Mutti yesterday abandoned her intentions to raise preliminary issues in a matter she is charged with 33 counts of theft, forgery and altering a false document.
One of Mutti’s defence lawyers Patrick Mvunga informed the court that the intentions to raise preliminary issues had been dropped, so the matter should proceed to trial.
The State, however, objected for the matter to proceed saying although the witness was before court, the witness was not prepared for the day.
On Tuesday, Mutti through her lawyers requested for an adjournment to Friday to enable her raise preliminary issues in relation with the 33 counts she is facing.
Lusaka magistrate Humphrey Chitalu adjourned the matter to September 21, 2015 for commencement of trial.
