Man convicted for aiding and abetting nine illegal immigrants

A 38-YEAR-OLD man of Lusaka’s Zingalume Compound has been convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K45, 000 or in default three years imprisonment with hard labour for aiding and abetting nine Ethiopian illegal immigrants.

Immigration department public relations officer Namati Nshinka in a statement stated that Augustine Ntoshya a driver and Mechanic was on March 21, 2016 arrested at Kalunga area in Isoka by Immigration and Police Officers while on a routine patrol.

“The Magistrate Court in Isoka on Thursday, May 19, 2016 convicted and sentenced a Zambian male to pay a fine of K 45,000 or in default three (03) years imprisonment with hard labour for aiding and abetting nine (09) Ethiopian illegal Immigrants . This was after he sped off from a kerb in an attempt to avoid the officers whose attention was drawn to two stationary vehicles one being a Toyota Regius Registration number ABC 8445 which he was driving,” Mr. Nshinka stated.

“Realising that the Officers were on the chase, Augustine Ntoshya abandoned the vehicle and ran before he was finally caught by the Officers. Nine (9) undocumented Ethiopians including five (05) juveniles were found in the abandoned vehicle. The adults were turned into State witnesses against the accused. All the Nine (09) Ethiopians have since been removed from the Country and the Toyota forfeited to the State.”

Mr. Nshinka stated that Mr. Ntoshya was facing another count of smuggling of persons contrary to section 9(1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act number 11 of 2008 which has entered trial and that judgment was scheduled for May 26, 2016.
And Mr. Nshinka stated that in Kariba, 10 Zimbabwean fishermen were convicted to one year simple imprisonment for unlawful stay.
He stated that six Ethiopians in Kabwe were also convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 4,000 each or in default 6 months simple imprisonment for a similar offence.

“Similarly, in Ndola, an Australian national was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 2,000 or in default 6 months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay. He has since been removed after paying the court fine. In Nchelenge, one Congolese was convicted for a similar offence. He was meted a suspended sentence of 12 months,” Mr. Nshinka stated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nshinka stated that in Chililabombwe, two Congolese nationals were convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 3,000 each or in default 3 months simple imprisonment for unlawful entry.

He stated that in Chipata, three Malawians were convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 400 or in default 5 months simple imprisonment for a similar offence.

“In Solwezi an Indian national was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of K 5,000 or in default 1 month simple imprisonment for failing to vary the conditions of his permit,” stated Mr. Nshinka.-