Congolese footballer, Mbombo, gets 6 months ‘simple imprisonment’

The Ndola Magistrate Court has convicted 27-year-old Congolese footballer, Idris Mbombo, to six months simple imprisonment for giving false information to an immigration Officer and obstruction to justice.

Mbombo appeared before the Ndola Magistrate Court on June 29, 2023, where he was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 6,000 or, in default, six months simple imprisonment for both counts.

The former Nkana player was apprehended on May 27, 2023 during a routine operation conducted in Ndola’s Mitengo Residential Area, according to Department of Immigration Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka.

Nshinka in a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday said during the operation, Mr. Mbombo refused to identify himself to the Officers, claiming that he did not know where his passport was.

He said Mr. Mbombo instead exhibited very violent behaviour leaving the Officers no choice but to take him into police custody at Kansenshi Police Station, where he produced his Congolese passport, which had been in his possession all along.

“Similarly, the Ndola Regional Immigration Office, on June 29, 2023, secured the conviction of a 27-year-old Chinese national, Ming Yin, for failure to comply with conditions stipulated in his Employment Permit,” Nshinka said.

He explained that on June 16, 2023, Ming Yin was found working at Great Wall Financial Services along Kandabwe Road instead of New Future Financial Company Limited stipulated in his Employment Permit.

Nshinka said Ming Yin appeared before the Ndola Magistrate Court on June 29, 2023, where he was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 5,000 or, in default, six months simple imprisonment.

“On the same day, the Ndola Regional Immigration Office secured the conviction of a 52-year-old Turkish national, Tuncay Toplu, for unlawful stay and engaging in employment at Deniz Blocks without a permit,” he said.

Nshinka said Great Wall Financial Services and Deniz Blocks were charged for employing foreign nationals whose status does not authorize them to be employed contrary to section 43(1) (b) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia.

He said Company representatives from the two companies were scheduled to appear in Court on June 30, 2023.

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