BUSINESSMAN HARRY FINDLAY CONVICTED FOR MULTIPLE PASSPORT, FORGED STAMP OFFENCES
The Lusaka Magistrate’s Court has convicted and fined businessman Harry Findlay a total of ZMW 240,000 for two separate immigration-related offences flatly rejecting his legal team’s fervent plea for acquittal in a high-profile immigration fraud case.
Findlay faces four (4) and six (6) months simple imprisonment respectively should he fail to pay the fine.
The first charge was for Holding more than one passport, contrary to Section 22(1) as read together with Section 22(2) of the Passport Act of Zambia, specifically acquiring passport ZP021382 on March 14, 2014, after claiming to have lost passport ZP013259.
The second, more severe charge, possessing a passport with a forged Mwami Border Control immigration endorsement dated October 3, 2022.
This offence contravenes Section 52(4)(e) as read together with Section 56(1) of the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010.
Throughout the trial, Findlay’s defence, led by Milner & Paul Legal Practitioners and D. Findlay & Associates, maintained a strong position of innocence. In their final submissions, they argued that the State “failed to prove the offences beyond all reasonable doubt” and “did not produce any evidence” for the second count, beseeching the court for a full acquittal.
Findlay himself, during his defence, claimed the disputed stamp was merely “blurred but genuine” and justified holding multiple passports due to a reported loss and a need to preserve a valid visa.
The prosecution team urged the court to find the accused guilty based on evidence adduced which proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya-Okoh found that the State had successfully proven both counts beyond a reasonable doubt, contrary to the defence’s claim of a failed prosecution.
The court imposed a fine of ZMW 240,000 for the combined counts. These sentences will run concurrently, meaning the total effective time he will serve in default of the fine is six months simple imprisonment.
The conviction highlights the government’s continued focus on enforcing national security and immigration laws.
NPA PR UNIT
Dishonest, treacherous people
This man is so criminal that he should have been put in jail and beaten to Kingdom come. Don’t forget the chaos he caused during LUNGU’s time.
CHIKALA cha wiso
What is K 240,000 to this man? The only damage is that the criminal conviction means he can not travel to certain countries, apply to enter certain countries cause of his conviction.
Throughout his arrest and the matter, Mr. Finpay has claimed he needed to travel to see his Doctor abroad. With this stain, one wonders how he will go about this. Will the state issue him a passport; which is a government document; issued to someone at their discretion? Or all these documents are now void as a result of this conviction? Understandably one would then understand why his legal team wanted an aquittal. To vindicate him so that he can still travel. Well lets see how those that enforce the law will approach this.
Maybe am speculating and my mind is in overdrive…