The ACB’s appetite to incarcerate the former Minister of Lands, Kezzie Msukwa, continue hanging unquenched as the subject registers another provisional win in the court.
The Supreme Court of Appeal on Thursday, July 28, 2022 sustained a Stay Order that was previously granted ex-parte for the former Minister not to be prosecuted until his appeal case is fully heard. The full hearing is expected to take place at the same (Supreme) court.
The ex-parte hearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) came into being after the High Court presided by Justice Kapindu dismissed an application which Msukwa together with his co-accused, Ashok Nair, made to the court seeking the court to cancel the warrants of arrest which the ACB obtained against them.
The duo rushed to the SCA where they obtained a relief in form of an order that restrained the ACB from arresting Msukwa and remanding Nair to prison.
Msukwa, remain booked to answer charges of corruption connected to business mogul Zunneth Sattar.
Delivering his ruling on Thursday, the supreme court Justice Frank Kapanda said a full bench at the supreme court must hear the matter and that the registrar should facilitate the process with speed because the case is of great public interest.
The former Minister, who was arrested together with Sattar’s business associate Ashok Nair, wants the court to review the manner in which the ACB arrested him at a hospital in December 2021.
Msukwa is further asking the court to determine whether ACB can enter into what is termed Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) with an international agency, particularly referring to the National Crimes Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom, without the Attorney General’s involvement.
