Minibus owner sues state over stolen bus

A MINIBUS owner has sued the state for allegedly failing to secure his impounded vehicle at Los Angeles police post.

According to a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Daily Ndabilendo claimed that on 9 October 2010, his Toyota Hiace minibus registration number AAV 1896 was impounded by a Sergeant Emmanuel Chibonba for contravening traffic regulations.

Mr Ndabilendo alleged that following the impounding of the vehicle, his minibus was parked at Los Angeles police post pending payments of the required fines.

He claimed that when his son went to pay for the release of the minibus, he was informed that the minibus had been stolen.

“I received a phone call from my son who had gone to pay the fees that the bus was stolen from the police post where it was parked,” Mr Ndabilendo said.

He said the bus was later discovered in Lusaka West, ransacked of its parts including the engine, gearbox and tyres.

The complainant said the police officer advised him to tow the vehicle back to the police station and start looking for the stolen parts.

“Sergeant Emmanuel Chibonba told me to start looking for the stolen engine, gear box and tyres which were stolen and that I should inform the police once I found them so that they can affect an arrest of the suspect,” he said.

Mr Ndabilendo claims that to date the police have not recovered the parts and following the failed attempts to resolve the matter in 2014, the matter was reported to the Police Public Complaints Authority (PPCA) and received a decision in his favour.

He now claims compensation for his minibus and loss of business; he has asked the court for compensation of damages for inconvenience caused due to the state’s actions.