Lungu’s former press aide, Chanda, others released on K40,000 bail

Former Presidential Press Aide, Amos Chanda, his wife and sister-in-law, have been granted K40,000 bail each in their own recognition, and ordered to surrender their passports to Court.

The convicts were on March 13, 2024 sentenced to seven months simple imprisonment for obstructing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officers from conducting a search at his residence.

The Lusaka Magistrate Court fined the trio K135 each for insulting officers or in default, 30 days simple imprisonment.

They, however, appealed against the conviction and sentence at the Lusaka High Court.

Appearing before Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate, Dominic Makalicha granted the three the bail application pending appeal.

“After considering all submissions, I have decided to grant bail pending appeal under the following conditions; Bail is granted in the sum of K40,000 each in their own recognizance.

“Each to produce two reliable sureties based in Lusaka in the like sum in their own recognizance. Further, I order that the convicts should surrender their traveling documents to the Clerk of Court. They remain in custody until they meet the conditions,” he ruled.

According to the notice of appeal, they argued that the trial Magistrate erred in law and fact when he convicted them for the offense of use of insulting language and obstruction of ACC officers.

They contended that the magistrate erred when he convicted them, claiming there was no sufficient evidence tendered by the prosecution warranting the conviction.

Chanda argued that Magistrate Makalicha misdirected himself and erred in law and fact when he slammed them with a custodial sentence of seven months.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.