The High Court on Wednesday adjourned a Judge bribery case involving well-known businessman Thom Mpinganjira to June 1, 2021.
High Court Judge Dorothy DeGabrielle found with a case to answer last and the case was adjourned to May 11, 2021 where Mpinganjira was supposed to enter defence.
But when the case resumed on May 11 Mpinganjira’s lawyers asked the presiding Judge to recuse herself from the case, citing bribery allegations.
In the application for recusal, the defence through lead lawyer Patrice Nkhono alleged that senior judge Sylvester Kalembera and DeGabrielle made offers for favourable sentencing.
But DeGabrielle refused to recuse herself from the case, saying the application was ill-timed.
The Presiding Judge then proceeded in ordering Mpinganjira to enter defence.
In his defence, Mpinganjira told the court that he indeed made contact with the two Judges, Mike Tembo and Healey Potani and mentioned that he had a parcel meant for them.
However, he said the fact is that there was no parcel.
He said he mentioned the parcel in order to obtain an audience with them.
Mpinganjira said he heard in a certain conversation of a parcel being mentioned and also wanted to find out on the same; hence, bringing up the issue with the two judges.
He said the reason why he wanted to meet Potani was that his name was also mentioned in a conversation which he overheard as someone who was receiving parcels for his colleagues hearing the presidential election nullification case.
Mpinganjira also told the court that he was shocked to learn that his conversation with Judge Mike Tembo was recorded.
Mpinganjira said he learnt of the recordings when he went to the ACB for questioning.
Matemba then asked Mpinganjira if he wants to maintain his stand that there was no parcel, to which he has said yes.
Matemba, in the conclusion of the cross-examination by the State told Mpinganjira that he strikes him as a dedicated Christian with integrity to which Mpinganjira responds by saying: “That’s your observation”
Nkhono then told the court that they intend to bring two more witnesses and finish their case on the same day.
DeGabrielle adjourned the case to June 1 2021.
