Judge Muma reportedly attempts suicide, a week after appearing in court for abuse of authority

Mongu Judge, Wilfred Kopa Muma, attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the river on Thursday.

This comes barely a week after he appeared at the Lusaka magistrate court and pleaded not guilty to the charge of abuse of authority.

Judge Muma is facing two counts of Wilful Failure to Comply with the Law or Applicable Procedure C/Sec 34 (2) (b) of Anti-Corruption Act number 3 of 2012 & Abuse of Authority of Office C/Sec 21 (1) (a) as read with section 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act number 3 of 2012.

Police said initial investigations indicated that the Judge attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the river and around 06:00 hours of Thursday.

This is according to Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale, in a statement issued on Thursday.

“Police in Mongu recieved a report of a missing person who was identified as Judge Wilfred Kopa Muma aged 58 of Liseli area in Mongu District of Western Province.

“Judge Muma is reported to have left his house on March 1, 2023 around 23:00 hours and only communicated with his relatives ‘suicide’ like messages which prompted them to alert Police to institute investigations,” Mwale said.

He said a 32-year-old man only identified as Phiri of Malengwa compound in Mongu reported the case of a missing person (Judge Muma) on March 2, 2023 around 01:20 hours.

Mwale said police immediately instituted investigations which led to the recovery of his official motor vehicle, a Toyota Hilux registration number GRZ 437 CX which was found abandoned at the Zambezi Bridge along the Mongu-Kalabo road with keys in the ignition.

Police officers secured the motor vehicle after a three-hour search of the Judge in the area.

He stated that later around 08:00 hours, Police officers received information that the Judge, who was heard calling for help while holding on to the grass for fear of being carried by the current in the Zambezi river, was rescued by a fisherman.

Police identified the fisherman as Sianga Lubinda aged 32 who took him to one of the islands on the Zambezi River.

Muma was later taken to the Bridge where he abandoned his motor vehicle using a canoe by the fishermen and was handed over to the officers who were together with other members of the public.

“He was rushed to Lewanika General Hospital where he is currently receiving medical attention. Police have opened an inquiry file into the matter, Mwale said.

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