Court sets date for pre-trial conference in ZAMMSA case
Moses
Court sets date for pre-trial conference in ZAMMSA case
Content Type: Free
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE
THE LUSAKA Magistrate Court has set May 21 as date for the pre-trial status conference in the matter involving former ZAMMSA director general Victor Nyasulu and three others charged with the case of abuse of authority of office.
Nyasulu with his co-accused appeared before Principal Resident Magistrate Peter Mungala following an amendment to the cause list which had seven accused names to now four.
Deputy Chief State Advocate Graciliar Mulenga informed the court that the cause list has been amended, and that her office should be able to serve the defence team by next week.
“We will be able to serve the defence next week Tuesday in accordance with criminal procedure code.
The cause list has already been amended as requested, and we should be able to serve by Tuesday,” she said.
Magistrate Mungala however informed both legal teams that they should take into consideration that he would not be available for proceedings from May 22 to June 8 owing to some commitment out of court.
The State then informed the court that with service to be done on May 12, both sides agreed on May 21 as a suitable for the pre-trial status conference to set dates for the accused to take plea.
Nyasulu appears before the Economic and Financial Crimes section of the magistrate courts on allegations of failing to comply with public procurement rules.
This was after the Drug Enforcement Commission arrested him and the former director of Supply Planning Nalishebo Siyandi as well as the current director of Procurement Nchimunya Chrispin Habbadu for failing to follow the laid down procedure.
Dr John Kachimba is the fourth defendant in the matter charged with wilfully failing to comply with section 39 of the Medicines and Allied Substances act No. 13 of 2013 when he allegedly directed a waiver for market authorisation in the mop up procurement of medicines medical supplies, anti-cancer medicines adjuvants, and reproductive health commodities.
All accused persons had their police bond extended.
