Why is DPP silent on ‘soft’ sugilite sentences?
By Tony Nkhoma
THE failure by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to appeal against the soft sentences handed to sugilite culprits amounts to protecting corrupt individuals, the Community Action Against Corruption (CAAC) has said.
CAAC chief executive officer Brightone Tembo said the Zambian government was harsh when sentencing corrupt opposition political opponents and soft on individuals it associated with.
Tembo was worried that four weeks after the light sentences passed by the Mansa magistrates court on politically connected individuals, the DPP had failed to appeal the soft terms handed to the sugilite culprits.
“As an organisation we are very much surprised that four weeks after the Mansa court’s decision, the Director of Public Prosecutions has failed to appeal the soft sentences handed to sugilite culprits. We challenge the DPP to appeal this case, so that he can help Zambians get true Justice out of this Scandal,” he said.
In an interview with The Mast, Tembo challenged the DPP to appeal the case so that he can help Zambians get true justice out of the scandal.
“The sentencing of culprits involved in the Sugilite Scandal to five months imprisonment and related fines last month by the Mansa subordinate court is a mockery to Zambians and the justice system,” Tembo said.
