Armed wildlife officer prompts court to adjourn ivory case

BY CHIKUMBI KATEBE

LUSAKA Magistrate Peter Mungala was forced to stand down a matter to August 10 when an investigations officer from the Department Wildlife took to the stand with a firearm.

The court was only alerted of the officer carrying the firearm  by the defence lead-lawyer Brian Muwanei Kabika who complained that he was not in a position to cross examine an armed officer.

The courtroom came to a standstill as Mr Kabika stood visibly shaken at the sight of the weapon hoisted at the waist of the officer who had gone down from the box to make physical identification of accused persons before court.

Mr Kabika explained that he was traumatised mentally, emotionally and his mind was not at peace after seeing the gun in the courtroom.

He pleaded that the court intervened, adding that “the nature of our work is a risky one and we don’t want to take this situation for granted.”

“I appeal for an adjournment to help me seek psychotherapy before I can come back to court,” he submitted.

Justice Mungala warned the officer and other security personnel against bringing firearms in court, that it was regrettable that the witness took to the stand while armed which is against the rules of the court, adding that “the court is supposed to be a safe place for litigants and the general public.”

And when asked why he came armed before court, the officer apologised explaining that he was in operations before he came through to court, and that he forgot to handover the weapon to his colleagues outside the courtroom.

This was in a matter in which the officer was testifying to the capture and arrest of six accused persons who were found with illegal possession of wildlife trophies contrary to Section 130(2)(a) of the Zambia Wildlife Act.