THE Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has acquitted Bowman Lusambo in the matter where he was charged with attempting to interfere with state witnesses.
Meanwhile, Lusambo has thanked God for having been vindicated in the case.
In this matter, Lusambo was facing three counts of attempting to interfere with witnesses.
Particulars of the offences allege that Lusambo, between February 1 and April 30, 2022, in Lusaka, in order to obstruct the due course of justice, did endeavour to dissuade or prevent Cosmas Kapula Chalusa, Ernest Sumani and Mundia Mataa from giving evidence as witnesses before a court of law.
When the matter came up for judgement before Magistrate Trevor Kasanda, Thursday, the court stated that the prosecution had failed to prove its case.
Magistrate Kasanda stated that the prosecution had failed to make a prima facie case that Lusambo attempted to interfere with the state witnesses.
“The prosecution did not mention at what point the accused interfered with the witness. The question is, did the said interaction with the accused amount to attempting with the witnesses? The prosecution must prove that. The prosecution has not made a prima facie case that the accused made an obstruction of the witnesses. Calling the three does not amount to interfering. The accused interaction did not cause a threat to the witness to stop being witnesses. The prosecution has failed to prove their case and I acquit the accused in all three counts,” stated Magistrate Kasanda.
Meanwhile, commenting on his acquittal, Lusambo thanked God for having been vindicated.
“I just want to thank the almighty God that I’ve been vindicated. According to the judge today, he has told us that there was nothing like interfering with witnesses when I greeted the three at the courts of law. So, I want to thank the almighty God for allowing the court to thoroughly investigate this case and to come up with a sound judgment,” said Lusambo.
In this matter, Lusambo was defended by Melissa Phiri of Messrs. Makebi Zulu Advocates.
