Judge recuses self in Somali murder suspect case Written by  Web Master

Ndola High Court judge Mary Mulanda has recused herself from handling the case in which a Somali national, Omar Mohammed Hashi, is accused of murdering his cook.

This came to light in Ndola yesterday when the matter came up for plea.

“Mr Hashi, I am afraid we will not be able to take your plea in this court because I will not be handling your case. You will wait until your matter comes up before another judge on a date to be communicated to you,” she said.

Hashi,30, of flat number one Catchpole Flats, Kopa Road in Ndola’s Northrise, is facing one count of murder contrary to Section 200 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that on December 13, 2012, Hashi murdered his cook, Holland Kabaso, after a dispute over non-payment of the deceased’s salary of KR600 (K600,000).

The killing of Kabaso sparked riots in which over 30 Zambians were arrested for riotous behaviour.
And in the same court, a juvenile pleaded not guilty to one count of murder.

The juvenile is facing one count of murder contrary to Section 200 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that on November 2, 2012, the juvenile murdered his sibling, Moses Maseka, over nshima.

“A plea of not guilty has been entered in your case and you will come on February 12, 2013 for commencement of trial. In the meantime, you will be remanded in custody,” judge Mulanda said.