By Adrian Mwanza –
THE case involving former African heavyweight boxing champion Joseph ‘no pressure’ Chingangu, who is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, again failed to take off after the State failed to produce witnesses.
The prosecutors said the witnesses were out of town with a disappointed magistrate Nchimunya Simaubi warning the prosecuting team to bring the witnesses without fail in the next hearing.
Last month, the case, which was coming up for continued trial, again failed to take off after the State witnesses failed to show up at court.
This is in the matter in which Chingangu, 46, is accused of theft of a motor vehicle, a Toyota Probox registration No. ALH 7159 valued at K32,000 and other assorted goods worth K156, 752 belonging to Peng Teng.
The arresting officer, Martin Kabungo of Kabwata Police Station yesterday told the court that the witnesses, who are contractors, were out of town undertaking construction works in Central Province.
Kabungo said the other witnesses had travelled out of the country and that their mobile phones were not available.
“Your honour, we failed to bring the witnesses to court because they are out of town since they are into construction and are usually out of town and are currently in Central Province,” he said.
Magistrate Simaubi said this would be the last adjournment he was making over the State’s failure to produce witnesses in order for the case to continue.
“This is the last time I will make an adjournment because witnesses have not been brought before this court, this is making it difficult for the case to commence,” he said.
Mr Simaubi said the matter should come up on April 27 this year for mention and trial would commence on May 4.
Chingangu calmly bypassed journalists who were taking photos as he left the court premises in the company of his relatives.