"Prominent Businessman Shaderick Kasanda Arrested Amidst Espionage Allegations: Court Proceedings Temporarily Adjourned"

On August 30, 2023, Shaderick Kasanda, a prominent businessman, found himself in the custody of law enforcement agencies, facing new allegations. The unfolding events came to public attention during the afternoon session at the Lusaka Magistrate's Court, where the ongoing case involving Kasanda, and ten co-defendants was scheduled to proceed.

Kasanda, alongside ten others, was accused of engaging in Espionage. Their appearance before Lusaka's chief resident magistrate, Davies Chibwili, was anticipated. However, upon the commencement of proceedings, a notable absence was observed – Shaderick Kasanda himself. State advocate Gracilia Mulenga apprised the court of this development, revealing that Kasanda had been apprehended by law enforcement agencies shortly before the session began. Mulenga noted that additional details about the charges were still forthcoming.

In response to this unexpected turn of events, Defense lawyer Makebi Zulu rose to address the court. Zulu contested the circumstances of Kasanda's arrest, suggesting that it might be viewed as contempt of court. He argued that the law enforcement agencies had disregarded a prior court order that required the presence of all accused individuals, implying that the agencies were aware of this directive. Zulu further posited that a more appropriate course of action would have been for the agencies to wait until the legal proceedings had commenced before executing any arrest. Without the complete attendance of the sixth accused person, Zulu contended, the ongoing proceedings lacked a necessary foundation to continue.

Magistrate Chibwili weighed in on the matter, acknowledging the potential for contempt of court proceedings. However, he emphasized that for such proceedings to be pursued, the identity of the responsible party needed to be established. Consequently, the court temporarily adjourned the case, allowing time for further assessment and consideration.

In essence, the events of August 30, 2023, saw Shaderick Kasanda, a prominent businessman, taken into custody by law enforcement agencies in connection with fresh charges. This development unfolded within the setting of the Lusaka Magistrate's Court, impacting the ongoing case involving Kasanda and his co-defendants. The absence of Kasanda during the proceedings sparked discussions about potential contempt of court due to alleged defiance of a prior order requiring the presence of all accused individuals. As the legal process unfolded, the court chose to adjourn temporarily while awaiting additional information about the circumstances surrounding the arrest.