Maravi

Court orders Chiluba to appear before UTH docs

Court orders Chiluba to appear before UTH docs
By Laura Mushaukwa
Saturday May 19, 2007 [04:00]

ACTING deputy registrar of the High Court Jones Chinyama has directed second Republican president Frederick Chiluba to appear before a team of doctors at UTH to review his medical condition. Chiluba is to have his medical condition reviewed within a period of two weeks. The order came after lawyer Diana Bunting informed the court on behalf of the defence (Robert Simeza and John Sangwa) that Chiluba was not before court for mention because he was still unwell.

Bunting further asked the court to set trial dates sometime in August because Chiluba was scheduled to go to South Africa for medical review in July.

In response, state prosecutor Mutembo Nchito noted that from what Bunting was saying, Chiluba was not able to attend trial anytime before August.

Nchito noted that it was evident that Chiluba was active in the public domain and engaged in matters more strenuous than attending court.

He suggested for special equipment to be provided for Chiluba to attend court in the comfort of his home if it was not possible for him to attend court in person, or that the trial date could be set in August as per request by the defence.

After listening to the applications, magistrate Chinyama said he ordered Chiluba to appear before a team of doctors last time because of his medical condition.
He said he did not order Chiluba to stay away from court at will.

Magistrate Chinyama then ordered that a review of Chiluba's medical condition be done and a report presented before court after which trial dates would be set.

Defence lawyer Robert Simeza said it would be ambitious to assume that the review could be carried out in two weeks because the doctors needed a report from Chiluba's doctors treating him in South Africa.

This is a case where Chiluba is jointly charged with Access Financial Services directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu for theft of about US $500 000.

The trio is alleged to have stolen the money in question between 1998 and 1999.

The matter comes up on May 31

Labels: CHILUBA, COURTS, UTH

posted by MrK @ 4:15 AM