By Esther Chisola
UPND member Kelvin Sampa has applied for habeas corpus challenging his detention stating that from the time he was arrested on October 7, 2024, he has not been charged with any offence.
Sampa has cited the Inspector General of police Graphael Musamba and the Attorney General as respondents respectively.
In his application, Sampa submitted that on October 7, 2024, he was arrested at Kabwata police station and has been detained without being charged with any offence.
He stated that he had been in custody for over seven days without being taken to court and his application for police bond had not been given any attention on account that he has not been formally charged and arrested, and as such, he could not be placed on police bond.
“That there is no charge against myself except I’m informed by the arresting officer Detective Inspector Phiri from police Headquarters that there is a complaint of obtaining money by false pretences by a former business partner,” stated Sampa.
“That I’m unjustifiably detained by the respondents at the said police station in that since the date of arrest, the said respondents and its servants have failed to charge and arrest me formally nor grant me bail nor take me to court as required by law without any reason given for such denial.”
Sampa further urged the court to grant him leave to issue a writ of habeas corpus directing the first and second respondents to show cause as to why he should continue in police custody for so many days without any charge or made to appear before a court of competent jurisdiction.
