Amos Chanda, wife, in-law granted K40, 000 bail

THE Lusaka Magistrate Court has granted former President Edgar Lungu's press aide, Amos Chanda, his wife and his sister -in-law bail pending appeal in the sum of K40,000 each with two working sureties in their own recognisance.

The court has also ordered that they should surrender their passports to the clerk of court but can request if they want to travel out.

In this matter, the court found Chanda, his wife Mable Nakaundi and his sister-inlaw Ruth Nakaundi guilty and convicted them to seven months simple imprisonment with a fine of K135 each for insulting and obstructing Anti-Corruption Commissioner (ACC) officers when they were conducting a search at their resident in woodlands, Lusaka.

Earlier, Chanda and two others through one of their lawyers, Mr. Timmy Munalula had applied bail pending appeal at the Lusaka Magistrate Court on grounds that they were dissatisfied with the Judgment of the learned Magistrate, Dominic Makalicha delivered on March 13, 2024.

When the matter came up yesterday for hearing, the defence team begged the court to grant their clients bail pending appeal stating that no prejudice will be occurred by the state if bail was to be granted.

The defence also cited and said the court should consider the decision in the case of Rathi Kumar Khrishna vs the people 2011.

Mr. Jonas Zimba, who had placed himself on record said the defence already filed the application and gave reasons the court should grant the applicants bail and it was his humble prayer that the court grants his clients bail pending appeal and sets the conditions.

However, the state did not object to the defence's application.

"We have had the occasion to consider the affidavit evidence to the application and the sentence was imposed, we have no objection to the applicant’s application," state submitted.

In rendering ruling, the court granted the bail pending appeal to the applicants.

"I have heard the application by applicants, I have noted that the state is not objecting, and I also noted defence submission that granting bail pending appeal its should be under special circumstances. After considering this, I have decided to grant bail in the sum of K40, 000 each in own recognizance and provide two reliable sureties in the like some in their own recognizance.

I order the convicts to surrender the traveling documents and remanded in custody until conditions are met," Mr Makalicha ruled.