Zambia: Illegal stay lands Somali national in jail

Thursday, October 02, 2014

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MONICA KAYOMBO, Ndola - THE Ndola Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a Somali national to three months imprisonment with hard labour for illegally staying in the country.

Ndola magistrate Moffat Phiri sentenced Ahmed Abdi Said, 27, following evidence adduced by the prosecution team.

Facts before the court are that Said allegedly unlawfully stayed in the country after the refugee permit expired.
Public prosecutor Cynthia Ngatsha told the court that when the convict was first interviewed by immigration officers, he claimed to have had a valid permit.

“During the interview, Said revealed that he was a Somali national and that he had a valid refuge permit which he produced. But upon examination of this permit, it was discovered that it expired on May 21 this year,’’ Ms Ngatsha told the court.

She testified that Said failed to justify why he did not renew the permit, hence was later arrested and remanded in custody pending prosecution.

In mitigation, Said told the court that he failed to renew the permit due to financial challenges.
He said it was not his intention to illegally stay in the country but that he was in the process of renewing the permit.

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