Minister Tayali awarded K450,000 for aggravated assault by police officer

Transport and Logistics Minister, Frank Tayali, may have cause to celebrate after the State agreed to award him K450,000 for aggravated assault by a police officer in 2020.

Tayali would also be paid K80,000 as costs for the lawsuit against the State.

The Ndola Central lawmaker has, therefore, agreed to discontinue proceedings against the State.

Tayali lamented that he suffered trauma as a result of the officer’s action.

This was according to a consent order signed by both parties in the case, the plaintiff’s lawyers and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

The judgement dated November 23, 2023 has been endorsed by Lusaka High Court Judge, Conceptor Zulu.

The Attorney-General, Mulilo Kabesha, in his defence had, however, argued that the Minister was not entitled to any compensation as no officer reportedly pointed a gun at him.

In this matter, Tayali claims that he was assaulted by an “overzealous” police officer who pointed an AK47 rifle at his head when he accompanied President Hakainde Hichilema, as UPND opposition leader then, for questioning.

Kabesha had contended that the officer only pointed the gun at the unruly cadres to dissuade them from advancing any further towards him and the plaintiff.

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