Defence wants independent experts in alleged slavery case

Defence lawyers in the alleged Oman slavery case have informed Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court of their intention to make three applications to help verify the testimony by an alleged victim.

Speaking yesterday during hearing in court, one of the defence lawyers Sylvester James Ayuba told the court that the defence wants experts engaged to verify evidence by witnesses.

He said they want the court in the first application not to discharge the first witness, who is the alleged victim, as the defence will be sending a private investigator to Oman to investigate where the witness was living and the conditions that she was subjected to.

The other application will be to engage a private doctor to examine the suspect who alleged that she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her employer.

It is alleged that the boss was having anal sex with her and she ended up getting infection, which was allegedly confirmed by Kamuzu Central Hospital.

The other application will be for a preservation order to have an expert examine the gadgets used in taking finger prints at Area 30 Police Headquarters to see if the victim did not have her finger prints taken as she indicated in court.

Lilongwe chief resident magistrate Madalitso Chimwaza said the applications will have to be made during defence.

Eight people, including three businesspersons, three police officers, an Immigration officer and a medical officer are accused of being part of a syndicate that allegedly trafficks people to Oman.

Three suspects in the case, namely Tinenenji Nsaku, Goodson Makala and Aisha Ali are answering four charges which include one count for aggravated trafficking in persons and three counts for attempted trafficking in persons.

The suspects who are businesspeople, pleaded not guilty.

The other suspects Chancy Namahaya, a medical personnel, Douglas Banda, a police officer at Kamuzu International Airport, Killion Kathakamba, an Immigration officer and two police officers at Police Headquarters in Lilongwe, Happiness Nkhoma and Manasseh Nyirenda, are answering charges of aiding trafficking in persons.

Each suspect is answering one count and they all pleaded not guilty.