Zambia: The State has opposed the request to grant bail to a Pakistan national, Wahdat Hussain, who is facing one count of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The State opposed the request on the grounds that it has credible information that the accused person is among the wanted persons in South Africa and Botswana for alleged human trafficking and money laundering.
The State submitted, “Your honour, the accused person has been difficult to comply with officers; hence, we regard him as a flight risk and object to the application for bail pending trial. ”
However, defence counsel Botha Nkuwa told the court that there is no documentary evidence concerning cases in other jurisdictions.
Counsel Nkuwa further told the court that the accused can not run away, leaving his investments in Zambia and that the State is in possession of his National Registration Card.
“Your honour, our client is able to comply with the conditions that the court will set in the event that bail is granted to him,” pleaded Counsel Nkuwa.
Particulars of the matter are that, on dates unknown but between January 1, 2021 and January 27, 2024, Hussain possessed motor vehicles, a great Toyota Fortuner, White Hilux, BMW X5, White Fortuner, Land cruiser Prado VX, Black Range Rover and a Maroon Range Rover being property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Lusaka Magistrate Trevor Kasanda adjourned the matter to tomorrow for ruling on the application and for the State to produce evidence as to why the accused should not be granted bail.
To prove their submission, the State produced evidence showing that Hussain was on a wanted list, among them an Interpol report for the accused, which was last updated on April 12, 2022, and his South African passport under the name Wajid Ahmed.
“Your honour, the accused person has been difficult to comply with officers, hence, we regard him as a flight risk and object to the application for bail pending trial”, the state submitted.