Maravi

Sata writes Chief Justice over Regina’s appeal

Sata writes Chief Justice over Regina’s appeal
By George Chellah
Thu 12 Nov. 2009, 04:02 CAT

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has challenged Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to explain the reasons behind his directive that appeals in corruption cases involving Regina Chiluba and Gladys Nyirongo should be heard by a panel of three judges.

In a letter to justice Sakala dated November 10, 2009, and copied to the Minister of Justice, Sata demanded that justice Sakala explains the new system he had introduced to the people of Zambia.

“Dear Sir, Re: High Court Sittings on appeal. During the ZNBC main news last night 9th November, 2009 the corporation carried a news item to the effect that the appeal for Mrs Regina Chiluba from the magistrates’ court to the High Court before the Honourable Mr justice Hamaundu shall be heard by a panel of three judges instead of one, as has always been the case.

This also applies to the appeal by the former minister of lands Mrs Gladys Nyirongo and that this new arrangement of hearing appeals is a directive from your office,” read Sata's letter to justice Sakala in part.

“The judiciary is and has remained the mirror of our society in the eyes of our citizens. You have a duty as a public officer to explain to our people the reasons for introducing such a new system especially when the cases involved are those of people accused of the plunder of the people's resources and corruption in public office. Is there any special reason for this new system and why now? I hope that you shall be in a position to explain this matter to the Zambian people if the judiciary is to retain their confidence.”

This week, Lusaka High Court judge Evans Hamaundu disclosed that a panel of three High Court judges would hear Regina's appeal against her conviction. The matter was coming up for commencement of hearing and was supposed to proceed for four days.
However, judge Hamaundu informed the parties that it had been decided that a panel of three High Court judges would hear Regina's appeal.

He said that the panel of judges would be constituted in due course and that when the panel is constituted the two parties would be called for a pre-trial briefing.

Chief resident magistrate, Charles Kafunda sentenced Regina to three and a half years simple imprisonment after being convicted on six counts of receiving and being in possession of stolen state property.

Labels: ERNEST SAKALA, GLADYS NYIRONGO, REGINA CHILUBA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 8:57 AM