By 
Lusaka businessman, Shadreck Kasanda, and four others are to appear and take plea before the Lusaka High Court on Monday for Espionage charges, in connection to the foiled gold scandal at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA).
According to the cause list, High Court Judge-in-charge, Charles Zulu, Judge Ruth Chibbabbuka and Justice Situmbeko Chocho would preside over the trial proceedings.
Kasanda, 33, is jointly charged with Mahogany Air Chief Executive Officer Jim Belemu, KKIA Police Commanding Officer, Robson Moonga, commercial pilot Patrick Kawanu, and State security officer, Francis Mateyo.
Read more: Trial stalls in case involving Kasanda’s wife who is accused of assaulting husband’s lover
The accused were apprehended in August this year and have been in custody since then after attempts to secure bail failed.
Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) charged 11 suspects with espionage, all linked to the gold scandal at KKIA in which a private jet in transit was seized carrying US$5.6 million, gold and weapons.
But On September 1, 2023, Magistrate Chibwili, was informed by state advocate Graceilla Mulenga that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had issued instructions to discontinue proceedings against six suspects.
Mulenga named the six as accountant and chairperson of the Bene Mukuni Traditional Ceremony Organising Committee, Oswald Diangamo, Walid Refaat Fathmi Botors, factory worker Mounir Shaker Gerges Awad, retired Colonel Mohamed Abdelhak Mohamed Gooda, security manager Yasser Mokhtar Abdelghafor and businessman Micheal Adel Micheal Batros.
During proceedings at the Lusaka Magistrate, Kasanda was abducted by State agents whom he accused of soliciting for a bribe of over US$10 million in exchange for his freedom.
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.
Comments