Human trafficker committed to high court

A Mansa Magistrates’ Court has convicted a 33-year old man for human trafficking contrary to the laws of Zambia.

Meanwhile, the case has been committed to the High Court of Zambia for sentencing.

Before Magistrate Davies Musonda was Moses Kaoma, 33, of chief Kalasa-Lukangaba’s area who was charged with two counts of illegal trafficking in persons contrary to section 3(1) and (2) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that, Kaoma, on June 10, 2009 intentionally and unlawfully trafficked in two children aged two and three years old respectively from Mansa Police Camp.

This happened when Kaoma took and deceived the two children to buy them sweets at Maiteneke market in the morning of the fateful day.

According to evidence presented in court, Kaoma picked the two children and went away with them with plans to board a bus enroute to Lusaka.

His plan was, however, thwarted when he was spotted by some people who had initiated a search for the children and identified the named children with him at CR Bus station in Mansa.

Kaoma was later apprehended and taken to police. He denied the charge and as the trial commenced was found guilty after seven witnesses testified.

In passing the verdict, Magistrate Musonda said his court could not sentence Kaoma but would just convict him and commit him to the High Court for sentencing.

The case attracts a 20-year minimum jail sentence with hard labour.

ZANIS