Drama as celebrity actor, Mpali, tries to escape after court sentence

Popular Zambian actor Shazzy Phiri escaped out of a court room after he was sentenced to 14 days in prison for contempt of court.

Phiri, who plays the role of Hambe Nguzu in the widely-watched telenovela, Mpali, on Thursday treated court goers at the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court to some thrilling unscripted real life drama.

Hambe’s good will of signing a police bond for his brother, Costa Phiri, who is accused of obtaining money by false pretences, vanished soon after being released from Kabwata Police Station custody.

After several failed court appearances by Costa, the court summoned the actor, alongside his other brother Stephen Phiri, also a surety to go and explain why they had not been presenting their criminally accused sibling before court.

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In his response, Hambe claimed he had been busy memorising lines from Frank Sibbuku’s script of the Zambezi Magic TV aired drama series, Mpali.

Finding his explanation unsatisfactory, the court decided to give the actor and his two brothers, who included the accused, 14 days in prison for contempt of court.

But Hambe was not prepared to miss a filming session and decided to give it a run.

The actor jumped out of the dock and tried to run away.

Unfortunate for Phiri, the police stationed within the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court caught up with him before he even got far.

Upon apprehension, Hambe, was taken to Lusaka Central Correctional Facility where he will be for two weeks, if he does not fork out a K10, 000 he committed to pay if his brother does not appear before court.

(Source: Kalemba)