ARCHBISHOP ALICK BANDA SPENDS NIGHT IN CELLS
ARCHBISHOP ALICK BANDA SPENDS NIGHT IN CELLS
By CHIKUMBI KATEBE
LUSAKA Magistrate Mwandu S. Nakazwe has today granted Archbishop Alick Banda K80,000 bail in his own recognisance, with three working sureties bonded at K50,000 each.
The bail was granted after the parties appeared before the magistrate in chambers.
However, when Archbishop Banda was presented before the magistrate for the bail proceedings, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) discovered that it had left its official stamp at its offices.
The development delayed the processing of the bail conditions, forcing the parties to wait for the stamp before proceedings could be completed.
Archbishop Banda spent last night in police cells following his appearance in court yesterday.
As part of the bail conditions, the sureties’ identification documents will be verified by the DEC, while Archbishop Banda has been ordered to surrender his travel documents to the commission.
The Archbishop will remain in custody until all bail conditions are fulfilled.
Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri SC is heading the prosecution team, while the defence team includes Bonaventure Mutale SC and John Sangwa SC.
Also present in court are Archbishop Ignatius Chama, president of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB), Rev. Fr. Simpasya SJ and other priests.