CHITOTELA’s sentencing adjourned to Dec 17, 2024
By Hannock Kasama
Sentencing has been adjourned to December 17, 2024 in a matter where PAMBASHE Member of Parliament RONALD CHITOTELA has been convicted for arson.
KABWE High Court Judge IRENE MBEWE has postponed the sentencing date in the matter, following the application by defence lawyers.
The defence lawyers have sought adjournment of the sentencing date to facilitate their application for the High Court to possibly vary the verdict of the KAWAMBWA Magistrate Court where Mr. CHITOTELA and two others were convicted for arson.
The defence lawyers comprise KAPEMBWA KOMBE, JONAS ZIMBA, FRANK LUNGU and BENJAMIN MWELWA.
Mr. CHITOTELA and his co-accused DAVID KANIKI and KUNDA CHITOTELA were convicted of Arson on July 22, 2024 by KAWAMBWA Resident Magistrate, MARTIN NAMUSHI.
The three were not however handed a penalty on grounds that the Magistrates Court has no jurisdiction to pass a minimum sentence of 10 years prescribed for arson.
The three were pronounced guilty of burning a Mahindra vehicle belonging to UPND Luapula Province Youth Committee during campaigns for the 2021 General Election.
