LUSAKA High Court Judge-in-Charge Philip Musonda has ordered the arrest of businessman Aristogerasimos Vangelatos for disregarding a court order that required him to attend contempt proceedings.
Mr Justice Musonda issued the bench warrant after Vangelatos failed to attend contempt proceedings on two occasions.
The judge cited Vangelatos for summary contempt after he scandalised the court by alleging that Mr Justice Musonda, Judge Nigel Mutuna and lawyer Eric Silwamba have conspired to inflict injustice on him.
He made the allegations when he went to see Mr Justice Musonda in chambers, after which the court ordered him to go and collect his lawyer Rodger Chongwe whom he alleged had sent him to make the allegations.
[pullquote]“You are therefore commanded in the President’s name to arrest the said Aristogerasimos Vangelatos forthwith and lodge him in prison.”-Warrant Except to Greenwell Ng’uni [/pullquote]
Vangelatos went to Mr Justice Musonda’s chambers on June 14, 2010 and after making the allegations around 12:30 hours, the judge ordered him to go and collect Dr Chongwe.
He promised to go back to Mr Justice Musonda with Dr Chongwe around 14:00 hours the same day but the duo never turned up for summary trial until the court summoned him.
Later Mr Justice Musonda set July 2, 2010 as date of hearing summons for contempt of court but Vangelatos again failed to show up.
“This continuous disregard of court orders can’t be condoned. A bench warrant for his arrest is hereby issued,” Mr Justice Musonda said.
His warrant addressed to Lusaka Division Commanding Officer Greenwell Ng’uni reads: “By an order of this court dated 2nd July 2010 it was ordered that Aristogerasimos Vangelatos of flat number 5 Acropolis Flats Chila Road Kabulonga, be committed to prison for contempt of this court.
“You are therefore commanded in the President’s name to arrest the said Aristogerasimos Vangelatos forthwith and lodge him in prison.”
When contacted, Lusaka Division commanding officer Greenwell Ng’uni said he does not know anything about the bench warrant against Vangelatos.
“I was out in Solwezi when it was issued. Maybe other officers attended to it,” Mr Ng’uni said.
Particulars of the summary contempt are that Vangelatos accused Mr Justice Musonda, Mr Justice Mutuna and Mr Silwamba of having conspired to decide cases against him.
He went on to state that Mr Justice Mutuna had decided his case against a Supreme Court judgment.
Vangelatos added that he had been to State House and to Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to report the alleged conspiracy.
When asked as to who advised him to make the allegations, he said it was Dr Chongwe.
Mr Justice Musonda said Vangelatos’ allegations were false, malicious and intended to undermine the court’s integrity.
He said by unleashing the malicious and twisted smear, Vangelatos intended to intimidate the court before hearing of his case
Vangelatos has over the years been embroiled in incessant legal battles with his brother Demetre over management and ownership of Dar Farms International Transport Company, King Quality Meat Products, and Metro Investments.
i hope ali mundende na deportation pa last
Ni mutundu bwanji uyu muntu?
The problem is that judge Phillip Musonda is very corrupt. That man does not deserve to be a judge. That is the judge which corrupt and thieving laywers like Nicholas Chanda and Kelvin Bwalya use to get favourable rulings. I wonder why he was even promoted to judge -in-charge
dont blame the judge.he’s highly qualified for the job.as for Kelvin Bwalya, he is so good a lawyer.am speaking from exprience.
LET THE LAW TEACH THIS CHAP WHO DID NOT HAVE A GOOD HOME UPBRINGING, THIS IS ZAMBIA THE REAL AFRICA!
If he went to complain to state house more the reason to lock him up! Does he want State house to interfer with the judiciary?
arrest the man..he’s abrogating the law ..arrest him..
Bna Ng`uni, set a precedence by locking this chap, these useless investors have no regard for this country.
Dar Farms to date has no decent garage yet they boast being one of the biggest transporters in the land, and are enviromentally injuring our land with oil in the industrial area!
Zambian judges are jus full of S.H.I.T, they are hopeless !!
These silly Muzungus is all i have to say. This must be the youngest one who was always in trouble and caused mayham. Lock him kabwata prison for a weekend and he will come to his senses.
These chaps think they are so important to be atup!d in our own country when us here in the diaspora we dont do that we respect their countries.Cage the bager and throw away the keys in lake kariba.
Aya sana uyuwine ai!!
judge musonda is a very wrong character to even be allowed to practice as a judge in zambia. he is too crooked. his son maksa musonda has even become a drug dealer recentry arrested by DEC
lets mind the way we comment.its an offence to reduce the estimation of the honourable courts of competent jurisdictions to contempt.one will be locked up for publishing sedicious materials and you will blame the la enforcement agencies for been tools of vendetta.lets read the law before making a comment.