NKHOTAKOTA (MaraviPost) — Nkhotakota Magistrate’s Court has denied granting bail to James Kamanga, 32, who is answering a charge of being in possession of 43 bags of Cannabis Sativa popularly known as ‘chamba’ without licence.
According to Nkhotakota Police spokesperson Williams Kaponda, on Tuesday, Kamanga pleaded not guilty on the alleged charge, a move which prompted State prosecutor James Ngupasya Muyira to register four witnesses to testify and prove the matter as charged.
“Later, Kamanga asked for bail, but the State objected, saying the case is sensitive as the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. The court acknowledged the State’s objection and remanded Kamanga to Nkhotakota Prison for safe custody until August 14,” said Kaponda.
He said the court heard through Muyira that the police, during the night of August 3, intercepted a high-roof minibus registration BLK 2586 with the bags of the drug in which the suspect and his friend were travelling in from Dwanga heading to Salima on the M5 Road
“When the suspects reached Kaombe Roadblock, police conducted a search and discovered that the minibus carried the illicit drug concealed in black plastic papers.
“Soon after the discovery, police asked if the suspects had a licence to be found in possession of the drug and this prompted the suspects to fast reverse the vehicle,” he said.
According to Kaponda, police officers shot at the front tyre of the minibus and managed to arrest Kamanga while the other suspect escaped.
