JJ Banda Committed to High Court

By Christopher Miti

Petauke Central Member of Parliament, EMMANUEL BANDA has been committed to the High Court for summary trial on charges of aggravated robbery and attempted murder.

Mr BANDA was committed by the Chipata Magistrate Court today.

This was after Deputy Chief State Advocate, RICHARD MASEMPELA informed Principal Resident Magistrate, BONIFACE MWALA that the state has received a certificate of committal from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The matter was scheduled to come for preliminary inquiry today, which was granted early this week.

Earlier, Defence Lawyer, KENNEDY MAMBWE applied for adjournment to allow the defence to obtain certain documents to use in the preliminary inquiry.

But the state objected to the application and informed the court that the holding of the preliminary inquiry has been overtaken by events because the matter has been committed to the High Court.

Mr BANDA is alleged to have attacked journalist PETER SUKWA on December 14, 2015 in Vubwi district, Eastern province.

During the incident, Mr SUKWA was robbed of a camera, valued at 10,000 Kwacha, spectacles valued at 1,800 Kwacha, 2 ATM cards, voice recorder and cash amounting to 200 Kwacha.