6 granted bail as burglary appeal goes to High court

MULENGA MUSONDA writes THE Choma Magistrates Court has denied granting bail pending appeal to the 6 men who staged a break in and got away with over 350,000 worth of property and Cash belonging to a business house. The bail pending appeal was presented to Court barely 2 weeks after the 6 criminals pleaded guilty to Breaking into a building and committing a crime therein. The six were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour and have since appealed against the sentence to the High Court. The six are Yona Mabala, 38, a businessman , McCloud Milimo 38 a Driver, Mike Zulu a Taxi Driver, Martin Chembe Tembo 45 a Carpenter,Bright Makasa 46 a Bus Driver all of Lusaka and Brian Phiri 39 a Bricklayer of Ndola stood charged with Breaking into a Building and Committing a Felony therein . Particulars of the offence are that the 6 jointly and whilst acting together with another person unknown broke into the Office of Ludy Investments with intent to commit a felony and stole therein K247,940 Cash, 1 Safe and 1 Central Processing Unit all valued at K 376,440 the property of the named Ludy Investments. The Heist happened between 1st and 2nd June 2020 in Choma district of Southern Province. When the matter came up for application of Bail pending appeal before Senior Resident Magistrate Idah Mupemo, Defense Counsel Enock Hangwemu from KBF and Partners in his submission stated that it is prudent that the six convicts be granted Bail as they have appealed against the sentence to the High Court. But in passing the ruling, the Court sided with the State and said the High Court does not have a backlog of cases and the appeal will be heard in the shortest possible time. She thus denied the convicts the Bail pending appeal and advised the Counsel to wait upon the High Court to go through the case and make its verdict. The Sun