…..Uwingila mumushitu tomfwa inswaswa……
Chinsali, 7-06-2022
The Chinsali Subordinate Court has today acquitted former Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and five others on one count of Endangering the Safety of an Aircraft contrary to section 8 (c ) and (f) of the Safety of Civil Aviation Act CAP 445 of the Laws of Zambia.
The Particulars of offence were that Andrew Kampyongo, Stephen Kampyongo, James Nsunge Mulenga, Cephas Mwamba Matumbo, Phillip Sinkala, Ignatius Musonda and Augustine Kapolyo on 2nd January 2015 in Shiwangandu jointly and whilst acting together, did conduct themselves in a manner to endanger the safety of an aircraft.
Delivering the ruling this morning Magistrate Julius Malata said the State could not provide evidence linking Hon. Stephen Kampyongo, Mr. James Nsunge Mulenga, Mr. Cephas Mwamba Matumbo, Mr. Phillip Sinkala, Mr. Ignatius Musonda and Mr. Augustine Kapolyo to the 2nd January, 2022 incident.
On the other hand the magistrate mentioned that a Journalist herein as witness from the prosecution during his testimony made no mention of names of people who were spotted on the scene but later 6 years down the line the journalist gave a different recount of events to Officer Mudenda who was in October of 2021 assigned to investigate the Helicopter incident that took place in 2015.
The Magistrate Malata further stated that the prosecution was to adduce evidence that the accused persons did an act to an aircraft. The prosecution to this effect availed 12 witnesses before the court but all failed to place the Parliamentarian and five others at the scene.
However, based on the evidence produced by the Prosecution and witnesses Magistrate Malata found Andrew Kampyongo with a case to answer.
Meanwhile, the court questioned the prosecution on why the witness Martin Mulenga a former PF Councilor who according to his own statement said he was with Andrew Kampyongo in the said vehicle that was seen at Kalalantekwe School grounds during the incident but was not a co accused as under the law the former councillor is an accomplice to the case.
Andrew Kampyongo has since been placed on his defence and will appear in Court on July 7, 2022.
Credit: Smart Eagles
