HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE FORCES GBM MISS COURT
By New Dawn Reporter
THE Lusaka Magistrates Court has warned PF presidential aspiring candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba to avail himself before the Economic and Financial Crimes Court (EFCC) at the next sitting, failure to which his police bond will be revoked and kept in custody.
The warning comes after the prosecution informed Magistrate Stanford Ngobola sitting at the EFCC, the division of the High Court that GBM was not before court, although his lawyers were present.
This prompted Magistrate Ngobola to find out why the former Defence Minister was not before the court.
In response, State Counsel Bonaventure Mutale informed Court that GBM was hit by high blood pressure and was being attended to by doctors from Midlands Medical Hospital.
“Your honour the accused person (GBM) is not in court, he is indisposed, he is a long-term patient of high blood pressure, and from the record it is equally evident that there have been times during the course of trial when the accused person was hospitalised with the same medical problem.
Your honour, the accused person is currently bedridden and seeing the doctor at midlands hospital for reviews, the doctor had advised him to be on bed rest. In these circumstances, we are humbly applying for an adjournment, a short adjournment for at least seven days to enable the accused recover and appear before this court.
We would like to assure this court that the accused person is equally anxious for the speed conclusion of the trial, it is the furthest in his mind to delay the speed trial of the matter,” State Counsel Mutale submitted.
He applied that the matter be adjourned for seven days in order to allow GBM recover.
“I have a letter confirming his medical situation from hospital. Your honour, the defence has noted through out the trial of this matter that the accused has not done anything to slow the expeditious process of trial, save for this ailment of the accused person. You will recall your honour that the accused person was fit enough to endure the trial of the matter in which over 20 witnesses were called without a break, it is with that background that we humbly request to indulge the accused person for seven days,” he submitted.
The prosecution expressed disappointment at the development, saying they were ready to proceed with the matter today as it was adjourned yesterday to today.
“To start with, we would like to register our disappointment, that this matter was supposed to proceed for defence today especially that yesterday the accused requested to have the exhibits, we were hopeful that this matter will proceed. We have been shown a sick note and that the accused person is unwell, we shall rely on the document shown to us. In an event that this court grants an application it is our sincere hope that the defence will at the next sitting have adequately prepared to start and conclude the matter,” she said.
And making a ruling on the application, Magistrate Ngobola warned GBM to avail himself on the next sitting as the matter had taken time to conclude.
He adjourned the case to 16th March 2023.
GBM was today expected to open his defence in the matter he is
accused of money laundering, having property suspected to be proceeds of crimes and failure to declare interest.
(GBM lawyers having a chat after the matter was adjourned today)