The Nakonde magistrate court has set August 31 as judgment day for two Zambians and a Tanzanian juvenile offender facing charges of aiding prohibited immigrants to enter the country illegally.

Appearing before magistrate John Njapau for defence on Friday was Alinani Silwenga a peasant farmer, Davies Sinyinza a taxi driver, and a Tanzanian juvenile offender who is a pupil at one of the local schools in Nakonde.

The three are jointly charged with one count of aiding and abetting illegal immigrants contrary to the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that on a date unknown but between 10th July and 11th July 2011 in Nakonde district of the Northern Province, the trio jointly and whilst acting together, did aid and abet illegal immigrants to enter into Zambia illegally.

The illegal immigrants were identified as Kadiri Katiso, Nasro Hussan, Maulidi Yusulf, Younis Ahmed, Muhammad Farah, Omara Yusuuf, Qadija Salah and Omara Ollah Hussan

The three accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Zambian accused persons opted to give unsworn statements and called no witnesses in their testimony during defence while the Tanzanian juvenile offender opted to remain silent.

In their individual testimonies, the two says they had taken the Tanzanian juvenile offender to Green Farm to collect his book.

Earlier, arresting officer Sydney Chibesa narrated how he intercepted the three near Iwula basic school the previous night where several other prohibited immigrants bolted after police raided a hide out.

Police only managed to arrest 8 Somali nationals while others disappeared into the nearby bush.