Juvenile offenders plead guilty to drug trafficking

Juvenile offenders plead guilty to drug trafficking

Chinsali Apr 24/13 ZANIS——Two juvenile offenders in Chinsali district of Muchinga Province have pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in psychotropic substances.

This is in a case in which the two juvenile offenders, both aged 14, of Ntindi village, are charged with one count of trafficking in psychotropic substances contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Facts before the court are that on April 18, this year, at Chinsali of Chinsali District of Muchinga Province of the Republic of Zambia, the two juvenile offenders, jointly and whilst acting together, did traffic in psychotropic substances namely, 68.8 grams of mirra without legal authority.

This is contrary to Section 6 of the Narcotic and Drugs Act Chapter 96 as read with Statutory Instrument number 119 of 1995 of the Laws of Zambia.

The duo pleaded guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Chanda said the court had found the juvenile offenders guilty of the offence upon their own admission of guilt.

The magistrate has since adjourned the matter to May 7, 2013, for written facts, and also to allow the Social Welfare Juvenile Inspector, Friday Pitu, to submit a report.

Meanwhile, a 54-year- old man of Chinsali district in Muchinga province, has been fined KR 200.00 or in default serve a 14-day imprisonment with hard labour for contempt of court.

Appearing before magistrate Shaderick Chanda for plea was Charles Musanya of Choshi village in senior chief Nkula‘s area who stood charged with one count of contempt of court.

 Facts before the court were that on April 13, 2013, Musanya’s cell phone rung during the court proceedings thereby disturbing the court session.

Musanya pleaded guilty.

In passing judgment magistrate Chanda said the court had found Musanya guilty upon his own admission of guilt and convicted him accordingly.

Magistrate Chanda said some people are taking advantage of the court’s leniency principally because the court never punished any one for committing such kind of acts.

He said the convict knew very well that if a cell phone rings amidst court sessions, it disturbs court proceedings, adding that he should have switched off his cell phone before entering the court room.

Magistrate Chanda said he had heard all what the convict had said in his mitigation but pointed out that ignorance is no defence.

He ordered the convict to pay a fine of KR200.00 or in default serve 14 days imprisonment with hard labour.

In mitigation Musanya told the court that he is a married man with six children and eight dependants.

The convict also asked the court to exercise maximum leniency on him because it was out of ignorance that he committed the offence, claiming that he wanted to switch off his cell phone when it rung.