LUSAKA Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale has found Lusaka photographer Cornelius Chellah Tukuta with a case to answer in a matter in which he is accused of defaming Information and Broadcasting Minister Dora Siliya.

In this matter, it is alleged that Tukuta on May 26, 2020 in Lusaka, published defamatory matter affecting Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya in the form of a video on Facebook that: “This Dora Siliya is hooking up girls, selling girls to the high-profile people so that men can be sleeping [with them], she is actually the highest of the highest professional prostitute. If Dora Siliya is refusing these allegations that she does not connect girls to high-profile people for sex, let her come.”

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and various prosecution witnesses testified against him.

Siliya had earlier testified that she was extremely disturbed that someone could be referring to her as a person who sells girls to high profile men which she believed was a crime.

“I felt angry, embarrassed because apart from my own person, a person who has been a public servant for so many years, I felt that this injury was about me in person but also the government since I work for government and also the people of Zambia who elected that government that I work for. I also felt that it was damaging to me and to my reputation and my family,” she testified.

Delivering a ruling on case to answer, Friday, Magistrate Mwale said the prosecution had adduced enough evidence to warrant the accused to be placed on his defence.

After being found with a case to answer, the accused however, could not proceed with defence and requested for an adjournment.

The matter has since been adjourned to May 5, 2021 for possible opening of defence.