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Court convicts Mpombo, remands him in Kansenshi Prison

Court convicts Mpombo, remands him in Kansenshi Prison
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Fri 06 Aug. 2010, 14:00 CAT

THE Ndola magistrate court this morning convicted former defence minister George Mpombo on one count of issuing a cheque on an insufficiently funded account. And the magistrate has reserved sentencing in the matter to Monday and has since ordered that Mpombo be remanded in prison pending sentencing as he was a convict.

Mpombo, 55, of number five Katonde farms, was convicted by Chief Resident Magistrate Kelvin Limbani. Mpombo was charged with an offence of a dishonored cheque, contrary to section 33 (1) of the National Payment systems Act as read with the Bank of Zambia Act.

Particulars of the offence were that Mpombo on December 18, 2009 with intent to defraud, issued cheque number 00014 worth K10 million to Colwyn Limited of Ndola on an insufficiently funded account, at Standard Chartered Bank, account number 0100260696200 which rendered the cheque dishonored.

Mpombo’s lawyer Bonaventure Mutale in mitigation asked magistrate Limbani to fine Mpombo instead of giving him a custodial sentence.

“The accused is a first offender and I humbly ask the court to accord maximum leniency, the court should take note that the accused repaid the money at the earliest notice when he was informed that the cheque was dishonored. The position is that there is no loss that was suffered by the complainant as the money was paid,” he said.

“The circumstances surrounding the case does not show any features of aggravation. I humbly request a fine as opposed to a custodial sentence. I humbly beseech your honour to consider a fine as it is quite clearly that there are no aggravated circumstances.”

But magistrate Limbani reserved sentencing to Monday August 9, 20101 and remanded Mpombo.

“You are a convict and I shall remand you in custody. Sentencing is set for Monday 9th August,” he said.

Mpombo looked surprised over conviction while the mood in court was quiet.

Mpombo shook hands with sympathizers as he was led to the court cell and assured them that “everything is going to be okay”.

Labels: COURTS, GEORGE MPOMBO, KANSENSHI PRISON

posted by MrK @ 8:26 PM