Kitwe’s ERB Worker Convicted For Assaulting Wife

By MWILA NTAMBI
KITWE senior resident magistrate Daniel Musonda last week convicted an Energy Regulation Board metallurgist for assaulting his former wife when she went to discuss child support at his office.
This is in a case in which Hastings Chilombo was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The offence is contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence were that Chilombo, on April 29, 2013 in Kitwe assaulted Grace Likando and occasioned her actual bodily harm. Chilombo denied the charge.
Delivering judgement, Mr Musonda said Ms Likando’s evidence was probable. He said some of Chilombo’s witnesses could have been biased because they were his workmates.
Mr Musonda convicted Chilombo after finding him guilty.
Chilombo had nothing to say in mitigation.
Mr Musonda adjourned the case to today for sentencing.
During trial, Ms Likando testified that Chilombo assaulted her when she went to his office to discuss the upkeep of the couple’s children.
She told the court that she was only rescued by Chilombo’s workmates.
In defence, Chilombo denied assaulting Ms Likando and insisted that he only exchanged words with her.