Ndola Taxi Driver Fined For Assaulting Client

By NANCY SIAME
THE Ndola Magistrate’s Court has slapped a one-year suspended sentence and K1,500 fine on a 33-year-old taxi driver of Chifubu for assaulting his customer over a K40 fare.
William Zimba was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The offence is contrary to Section 248 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Magistrate Ben Akende on Tuesday convicted Zimba, who pleaded guilty to assault.
“You could have killed someone over K40,” Mr Akende said.
Particulars of the offence are that Zimba, on July 20, 2013 in Ndola, assaulted Annis Muyanda and occasioned him actual bodily harm.
Mr Akende sentenced Zimba to 12 months and suspended the sentence.
He also ordered Zimba to pay a K1,500 fine of which K1,000 will be compensation to Mr Muyanda while K500 will go to the State, in default six months simple imprisonment.
“The fine is to be paid immediately or anytime while in prison,” Mr Akende said.
Facts before the court were that on the fateful day around 02:00 hours, Mr Muyanda left Spades nightclub and hired a taxi to take him home.
The court heard that Mr Muyanda found Zimba in a taxi in the company of a friend, who is now on the run.
Mr Muyanda asked Zimba how much he would pay for a ride to Ndeke and Zimba pegged the fare at K50 but Mr Muyanda bargained for K40.
The court heard that when Mr Muyanda reached home, he asked Zimba and his friend to wait outside while he got the money from the house.
The court heard that Zimba refused to allow Mr Muyanda to leave him outside because he did not trust him and a quarrel ensued.
The court heard that Zimba punched and kicked Mr Muyanda.
“He screamed for help and his parents woke up and came to his rescue,” the facts read in part.
Zimba was apprehended and taken to Ndeke Police Station.
In mitigation, Zimba pleaded with the court for leniency, saying he was upset when Mr Muyanda delayed the payment.
Zimba told the court that Mr Muyanda attempted to run away when he asked for his money.

Posted by Editor on August 1, 2013. Filed under CRIME. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry