Zambia: A 32 year old fisherman of Mubamba village in Nchelenge District has been sentenced to 55 months imprisonment by the Magistrate court for assaulting a police officer.
Before Nchelenge Resident Magistrate Lackson Mbewe was Harrison Mwenya, who pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in a matter that came up for plea.
Brief facts of the matter are that, Mwenya assaulted Francis Njovu, a police officer at Nchelenge police station, while in the due execution of his duty at Nchelenge Magistrate Court.
The court heard that on January 24, 2024, around 08:00 hours, Njovu was assigned to court duties at Nchelenge Magistrate Court and while on duty, the accused, who was on the stand while the court was in the process, became unruly, and when the officer tried to calm him down, the accused became furious and pushed the officer to the ground.
The accused was arrested and taken to Nchelenge police where he voluntarily admitted the charge. When asked if the facts were true and correct, the accused responded affirmatively.
Upon his own admission of the charge, Magistrate Mbewe found the accused guilty and charged him accordingly.
Senior state Prosecutor Juziel Zulu informed the court that Mwenya was a second offender.
“Your honour, the convict is appearing before you for the second time for a similar offence. He was jailed on August 5, 2022, on three counts of assaulting Police officers,” he said.
In mitigation, Mwenya pleaded with the court for leniency. In passing the sentence, Magistrate Mbewe said he has a duty to protect Police officers when they are assigned to duty at court.
He added that without Police officers, law enforcement would be impossible at the court. In order to deter would-be offenders, I hereby sentence you to 55 months imprisonment with hard labour with effect from January 29, 2024.