The Drug Enforcement Commission(DEC) will appeal against the suspended sentence slapped on Ndola Central Member of Parliament Mark Mushili for attempting to swindle the Government.
The Lusaka Magistrate court jailed Mr. Mushili for six months but suspended the sentence for one year and ordered him to do community service at the court premises for 120 hours.
Mr. Mushili was found guilty of attempting to swindle government of over 300 million kwacha.
DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali said the Commission has decided to appeal against the judgment of the court after consulting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Mr. Nyawali said the commission has been prompted to appeal the case due to public outcry demanding a review of the sentence.
He said various stakeholders have termed the sentence as lenient considering the fact that Mr. Mushili is a Member of Parliament who should live above reproach.
ZNBC
Ok, we have no issues with appealing it is a legal right provided in the useless justice system. Looks like the grounds for this appeal are due to public pressure. And again we understand that.
But here is the question and a big one for that matter. Is there NOT ENOUGH PUBLIC OUTCRY for the DPP to sanction the appeal of FTJ’s sentence?
Why do we have a country of men and NOT laws?
Why is there a different Law for the people in opposition and a different one for those that support Rupiah Banda?
If this appeal goes ahead , we demand immediate appeal in CONVICTED CRIMINAL FTJ CHILUBA. Yes, I call Him a convicted criminal because the London Court has a conviction against him and we hope it will be registered in Zambia soon.
The sentence was laughable. But I suppose they would not be talking about appealing the sentence if it had been handed to an MMD member. In another case, Mpombo is about to be sentenced and yet the much publicised transgression of the MMD minister is going unpunished. What a joke.
is there legal provision for FTJs case to be reopened in the event of a change of govt?
Do that on Chiluba !!!!!!!!!!
MK. according to my humble understanding of law is that even though there is a change of government, if Chiluba broke the law he can still face the law even after the Change of Government. The only thing would depend on the head of state to have some leniency towards the Chiluba or whoever is the accused.
Where drugs involved in this matter? Why the DEC and where is the DPP, again? Should LAZ be summoning the DEC lawyers for ‘wanting’ to appeal outside the DPP’s instructions (as with Ntembo Nchito ‘appearing’ before a LAZ Committee)? How about the statute of Limitation before lodging an appeal – like in the FTJ ‘comedy of the law’?
Have we, I mean Zambia, come to accept double standards as part of our due process of the law?
# 1 walasa. You are absolutely right. These guys eat with both hands. How come they have refused the mass out cry of the FJT case? In fact Mushili should resign but JFT self ordained Pastor should also face justice. FJT should not hide behind the bible. FJT should not abuse the pulpit in the name of a pastor. FJT belongs to Chimbwakaila where he can preach to his fallow prisoners.
The selective Justice system in Zambia is just sickening,i wish i could use strong language to describe how i feel about this but luckily LT does not allow freedom of speech so i rest by b.l.o.o.d.y case!
Can we in Zambia honestly say we have a credible justice system? I don’t think so, because the ‘law’ in Zambia is manipulated with impunity depending on who is in the dock. Our so called learned friends are so docile and highly compromised, they are a laughing stock.
well Mushili should have known better,he is in the opposition,so he shud have not in the first place try to steal!
Mushili must be caged before he has a chance of stealing more from govt should PF make next govt. He’s a disgrace of a politician who doesn’t deserve the title of honourable. While in opposition the chap is swindling govt, how about when he’s part of the system? DPP are now making people sympathasize with a criminal Mushili because of the FTJ thing.
There are MMD gus who got money from the ministry of comunity and social works and nothing has been done to them. This selective application of law in Zambia is so stinking. Chiluba is free in the face of public out cry and thiscry has not been heard? DEC is quiet about it. But on this one where even the guy has been punished they want to add more punishment on him just coz he is of the opposition.
Ba DEC you should be ashamed for being used by RB and his minions. Shaa….useles justice system in Zambia.
Imwe leave President Chiluba alone. What is wrong with you? Umufimbila! It is Mushili we are talkn about and NOT President Chiluba!
Here we are talking about a convicted criminal, Mushili. FJT was acquitted see the difference? No comparison at all. You don’t get convicted for swindling money from GRZ (our tax) and get away with 120 days community service. If Mushili was acquitted and the DEC appealed there would be a direct comparison. Twende ba DEC, flush them out, they are now hiding in the PF.
Surely if MMD wanted to make this political and if the judges are bought as some people allege then Mushili’s sentence would have been stiffer? You cant have your cake and eat it.
The Rule of law is really facing a big challenge in Zambia! hich DPP has sanctioned the dec to appeal? The same DPP we know! This is too funny if not a tragedy.
I find it folly that anyone would think that there’s nothing political about the DEC’s intended moves.
We all know how things work in Zambia,i wouldn’t be surprised to hear in future that Mushili bribed the magistrate who gave him a suspended sentence but i cannot argue much because i don’t know why the magistrate went with his decision but at least we know Mushili was convicted,it doesn’t matter that the sentence is suspended,Mushili still has a criminal record unless if he appeals and proves he’s innocence.It is a lesson to all and am sure Mushili will now lose his seat in parliament,am sure they don’t allow criminals do they? Had Mushili been in MMD he would have been acquited or the case would have been one of those that drag on till MMD is out of power.
Fack that!!! A full went to MUVI TV and said Zed students in Russia were given baggage allowances and they used it to marry, why the stupedety from GOvernment? They want to concentrate on rigging election. GIVE US THE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCES YOU MORONS
why are pipo feeling sorry for a criminal,Mushili is a thief period!
No. 14 DEC,
FTJ was convicted of £42m which is far larger than K300m. Infact, FTJ stole while Mushili wanted to steal. They’re all thieves who deserve to go in.
cage the thief so that he learns it the hard way,he is a danger to society and his status as member of parliament should be striped off with immidiate effect.What a shame this bagger atase!!
Yes i agree strip off his staus as an MP… Imagine PF MP what a shame….what has PF done to show us they dont condon Corruption nothing. I would have expected them to fire him as an MP but they are saying nothin. Please give him 5 yrs with hard labour please ……. I find the PF Mp wanting…Willi Nsanada has alot of issues with his wives and children, So is their President….who Telisto Mpundu wanted to vidicate!
The DEC, it is withing your right to appeal against a sentence where you feel it has been linient. I’m hapi that you have come out in the open to say due to public demand or pressure. But the question is why apply the law selectively?
FTJ’s aquital, you were silent when the short man was caught pants down laundering? why did you not appeal? In Zambia there are two lwaws, one for Oposition to be persued and the other for the MMD thugs to go scotfree.
Bulanda, ba Mushili pantu te ba MMD. Mofya a driver at ZAMTEL commited the same offence, but because he is MMD Distrct something, the DEC have only been appealing to him to “assist” with investigations.Yangu bane how we have distroyed our country.
:-w…iam still waiting to hear TIZ’s view on this comical judgement !…..Ba Lifuka ”postmouthpiece” what do u say about this fellow PF cadre of yours ? Maybe this is different monies auditor general reports about…Dont be so childish ..You have really belittled the name of TIZ.
Ba Frank ”genocide”Bwalya ,Kabanda,Father Miha,where are u? When are u going to organise rallies for the DPP to appeal?..cheap cadres. No matter how educated they are,still remain kaponyas !!
You spent sleepless nights at mmembe’s office trying to make a case out of Dora’s 2.5m handpump issue and here your fellow cadre stole 300m GRZ money and you remain DEAD QUIET !!