Magistrate, court officers charged for drugs theft

LUSAKA Magistrate Maggie Kunda Tantameni has been charged together with three court officers for allegedly stealing 34 kilograms of ephedrine valued at K1, 870,000. Tantameni, 39, of house number 9 Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Road in Avondale, has been charged alongside Felix Mkandawire, 35, a court interpreter, Francis Mphanza, 37, a senior public prosecutor, and Diddie Kangwa, 39, a senior clerk of court. Kangwa is already appearing before Kafue-based Magistrate Kawama Mwamfuli in a matter where he has been jointly charged with six other court officers and three businessmen for allegedly trafficking in cocaine. According to the indictment presented in court yesterday to Chief Resident Magistrate Kenneth Mulife, Tantameni and her co-accused have been charged for allegedly stealing by persons in public service, contrary to Section 277 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. It is alleged that on November 8, 2017, the accused persons being employed in the public service as court interpreter, senior public prosecutor, magistrate, and senior clerk of court, stole 34 kilograms of ephedrine valued at K1, 870,000 property of the Government of the Republic of Zambia, which came in their possession by virtue of their employment In another count, Mkandawire, Mphanza, and Kangwa are jointly charged for removal of property under seizure, contrary to Section 121 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. It is alleged that on November 8, 2017, the trio knowingly with intent to hinder or defeat the process, concealed 34 kilograms of ephedrine valued at K1,870,000 which was taken under the process of the authority of Tantameni’s court. After the case was called, the State informed Mr. Mulife that all the accused persons were not present before court despite the cause list being sent out, and that Mkandawire, Mphanza, and Tantameni are on police bond while Kangwa is remanded in custody for the cocaine trafficking case. Mr. Mulife then allocated the case to Chisamba-based Magistrate Suzan Mangalashi. He said the accused persons will take plea before Ms. Mangalashi today. In the same court, Mr. Mulife reluctantly adjourned the case in which three men have been found with a case to answer for trafficking in 24 kilograms of cocaine, which has since gone missing from the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court Complex, where it was being kept as exhibits. This was after defence lawyer Keith Mweemba told the court that he was not ready to proceed with commencement of defence on grounds that the defence lawyers were not available when the case was adjourned to yesterday. In this case, Sydney Mwansa, Shaibu Likuta and Teddy Matanda have been put on their defence for the subject offence.