— Samfya Nurse, colleague caged for 36 months for unlawful possession of Psychotropic substances

Samfya Nurse, colleague caged for 36 months for unlawful possession of Psychotropic substances

Samfya. January 14, 2015,  ZANIS —-  The Samfya Magistrate Court has sentenced a Nurse and a Planning Officer for 36 months imprisonment with hard labour for being in unlawfully possession of Psychotropic substances contrary to section 6 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances Act, Chapter 96 of the laws of Zambia.

Before Magistrate Mambwe Kanunka were Priscilla Kalunga 34 of Chiwala village in Chief Chiwala’s Chiefdom in Ndola District and Christopher Bupe 37 of Mapula village in Chief Mwatakazembe’s chiefdom in Mwansabombwe District.

The two were arrested on 12, September 2014 by the Samfya District Drug Enforcement Commissioners officers during a door to door inspection held in Samfya District

Facts before the Court were that Kalunga and Bupe on dates known but   before 12, September 2014 in Samfya district  did jointly and whilst acting together did traffic in assorted types of Diazepam and Phenobarbitone without lawful authority.

In mitigation Kalunga pleaded for lenience saying she is a Nurse at Samfya District Hospital who deserves maximum lenience adding that the conviction will entail loss of employment.

Likewise Bupe too pleaded for lenience saying he is a Planning Officer in Chembe District in the Ministry of Education the conviction will mean loss of employment.

But in passing judgment, Magistrate Kanunka said she was being lenient on the accused persons by sentencing them to 36 months imprisonment with hard labour when the offence in question carries the maximum of 25 years.