ARCHBISHOP BANDA SPENDS NIGHT IN CHIMBOKAILA AFTER BAIL DELAY Lusaka Archbishop Dr Alick Banda spent Monday night at Lusaka Central Prison, popularly known as Chimbokaila, after the completion of his bail formalities delayed his release. The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court on Monday granted the clergyman K80,000 bail in his own recognisance and ordered him to surrender […]

ARCHBISHOP BANDA SPENDS NIGHT IN CHIMBOKAILA AFTER BAIL DELAY

Lusaka Archbishop Dr Alick Banda spent Monday night at Lusaka Central Prison, popularly known as Chimbokaila, after the completion of his bail formalities delayed his release.

The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court on Monday granted the clergyman K80,000 bail in his own recognisance and ordered him to surrender all his travel documents pending trial.

However, sources said the process of finalising the bail conditions took longer than expected, resulting in Archbishop Banda being remanded at Chimbokaila overnight.

The Archbishop had earlier been arrested and formally charged by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) with possession of property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained, contrary to Section 319 of the Penal Code.

Particulars of the offence allege that between April 22, 2021 and December 27, 2023, Archbishop Banda was in possession of a blue Toyota Hilux, registration number ALF 7734, which was reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)

When the charge was read before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court, Archbishop Banda, who was dressed in black, pleaded not guilty.

The DEC says the vehicle is part of a wider investigation involving about 22 ZRA motor vehicles allegedly disposed of improperly.

The arrest has sparked mixed reactions, with some members of the public calling for calm and urging all parties to allow the matter to proceed through the courts.

The case is expected to return to court for mention, with the possibility of trial proceedings commencing.