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| National |
| Kambalame lawyers shoot back at ACB |
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by
Mc Donald Chapalapata, 02 September 2004
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09:35:11
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Lawyers representing jailed former general manager for Petroleum Control Commission (PCC) Denis Kambalame have said remarks by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) that they would cross appeal if Kambalame appeals against his conviction and sentence are unfortunate.
Lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale said in an interview on Wednesday if ACB spokeswoman Egrita Ndala does not know legal rights of convicted people, she should just shut up and seal her mouth.
“ACB should have been the first to welcome appeals because it’s only the court process that could vindicate them. They are not persecutors but prosecutors. I am sure if the Director of ACB read what Ndala was saying he is feeling bad,” said Kaphale.
Ndala told The Nation on Monday that ACB does not intend to appeal on two counts that Kambalame was cleared on but warned that if the defence appeals, it will have no choice but to appeal.
Kaphale wondered what the ACB wants to achieve “by threatening us with cross appeals”.
“Are they saying its wrong to appeal? Or they just want to punish Kambalame? What they should know is that we cannot be threatened, we have already appealed against the conviction and sentence,” said Kaphale.
Kambalame was convicted and sentenced to six years in jail after he was found guilty on a third count of receiving US$25,000 as gratification from Hamble Energy from the United Kingdom.
Kambalame, was, however, acquitted on two other counts of corruption.
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