GRACE CHAILE MATHEWS MALAZIKA Lusaka LUSAKA Archbishop Alick Banda will return to court on November 3 this year for trial after pleading not guilty to possessing a Toyota Hilux suspected to have been unlawfully obtained. The 62-year-old Catholic priest appeared yesterday before…

GRACE CHAILE

MATHEWS MALAZIKA

Lusaka

LUSAKA Archbishop Alick Banda will return to court on November 3 this year for trial after pleading not guilty to possessing a Toyota Hilux suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

The 62-year-old Catholic priest appeared yesterday before Lusaka magistrate Mwandu Nakazwe, where he denied the charge of being found in possession of property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully acquired, contrary to Section 319 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

He was formally charged and arrested yesterday in connection with the offence of possession of property reasonably believed to have unlawfully obtained.

In January this year, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) recorded a warn-and-caution statement against the cleric in connection with the alleged offence.

The prosecution was led by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri, while State counsels John Sangwa and Bonaventure Mutale formed the defence team representing Dr Banda.

“Have you understood the charge?” the court asked.

“Yes,” Dr Banda replied. When asked whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty, he answered: “I plead not guilty.”

Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) alleges that Dr Banda, on dates unknown but between April 22, 2021 and December 27, 2023, was found in possession of a blue Toyota Hilux registration number ALF 7734, property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully obtained from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).

The law enforcement agency alleges that the vehicle forms part of a wider investigation involving about 22 ZRA motor vehicles allegedly disposed of improperly.

Following the plea, defence lawyer Jeffrey Chimankata applied for bail pending trial under Section 123 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Mr Chimankata argued that the threshold for bail was low because an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

He submitted that Dr Banda, being an archbishop and priest, is not a flight risk and is likely to attend court whenever required.

He also submitted that there was no evidence that Dr Banda had previous convictions or posed a risk of committing another offence. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home