KAMBWILI’S $160,000 CASE STALLS
...Public Prosecutor Samuel Zulu said they cannot continue adjourning the matter because in the past they had adjourned on the same reasons that some suspects were not present before the court.
TRIAL again failed to continue in a case where nine people have been charged with allegedly stealing US$160, 000 from former National Democratic Congress (NDC) president Chishimba Kambwili’s home.
This was after the sixth accused person Stacey Jane Jones, a 23-yearold student and friend of Kambwili’s daughter Chanda, yesterday failed to show up in court for the third time.
Kambwili is already on the stand as first prosecution witness and the continued trial was initially set for Tuesday this week but couldn’t continue because one accused person was not present in court.
When the matter was called yesterday, eight accused persons were present but Jones was not.
Public Prosecutor Samuel Zulu said they cannot continue adjourning the matter because in the past they had adjourned on the same reasons that some suspects were not present before the court.
‘’This is why we are making an application for the court to issue a bench warrant against the suspect who has absconded court without a reason,’’ he said.
In response, her stand-in defence lawyer said in the past they adjourned the matter not because of the absence of the suspects but other reasons.
‘’We are asking if our client could be given a benefit of a doubt, and that in the next sitting she will be present without fail,’’ defence said.
In her ruling, Senior Magistrate Nthandose Chabala declined to issue a bench warrant but gave the accused a benefit of a doubt, adjourning the matter to May 10 for continuation of trial.
The accused persons include Mr. Kambwili’s five former domestic workers who are Rodney Muntanga, a 47-year-old houseboy; Esther Munyeka, 29, a maid; George Bwalya, a driver aged 49, Millan Chembe, a 35-year-old security guard, and Charles Kamutengo, a 54-year-old gardener, all charged with theft by servant.
Others are Jones, David Zimba, a 52-year-old retired police officer; Ian Kalunga, 38, a police officer, and Jacob Sinadambwe, a 32-year-old soldier and it is alleged that they stole the money from Kambwili’s bedroom between December 14 and 27, 2020 at his Woodlands home.