-Court fines 23 prohibited immigrants

Court fines 23 prohibited immigrants

Chinsali, May 31, 2013, ZANIS… Eight Pakistan and four

Bangladesh nationals charged  with one count  of unlawful entry into

Zambia have been convicted and fined KR3, 000 each or in default

six months simple imprisonment.

And magistrate Chongo Musonda has also fined 11 Ethiopian nationals KR

1,000 each for a similar offence.

Appearing before the Chinsali subordinate court yesterday, were 12

prohibited immigrants of Pakistan and Bangladeshi aged between 20 and

32 years old who stood charged with one count of failing to report to

the Immigration officer at Nakonde border post.

It is alleged that on 17 March ,2013 the 12 prohibited immigrants

jointly and whilst acting together being persons entering Zambia did

fail to  report to the Immigration officer contrary to section 12(1)

and 51(1) of Act number 18 of 2010 of the Immigration and Deportation

Act of the laws of Zambia

The court found the 8 Pakistan and 4 Bangladeshi nationals guilty of

the offence  upon their own admission of guilt and convicted them accordingly.

Magistrate Musonda said the court had taken into consideration all

that  the 12 prohibited immigrants had said in their mitigation but

that the crime committed attracts a maximum sentence of five (5) years

and not less than two (2) years imprisonment or not exceeding a fine

of KR36,000.

She said cases of this nature had of late been on an increase in the

country which is a cost on the part of the government.

In mitigation, the 12 convicted persons asked the court to exercise

leniency on them saying they were remorseful for what they did.

And magistrate Chongo Musonda  has also fined 11 Ethiopian nationals

for committing a similar offence of illegal entry.

This is in a matter in which 11 prohibited immigrants stood charged

with one count of illegal entry into Zambia contrary to Section 11 (1)

(2 ) and 56 (1) of Act number 18 of 2010 of the Immigration and

Deportation Act of the laws of Zambia, which they committed on 23 March, 2013.

Passing judgment magistrate Musonda said she has heard what the

convicts had said in their mitigation.

She added that the court was convinced that the 11 convicts were

remorseful for what they did adding that they were indeed being driven

by survival instincts to search for greener pastures.

Magistrate Musonda has since ordered the 11 convicts to pay a fine of

KR1, 000 each to be paid on or before 30 June this year failure or serve serves six months simple imprisonment.

ENDS/