COP PUNCHED, SPAT ON

VICTORIA KASANGA writes

A police officer has told a Ndola magistrate’s court that a fellow police officer suffered humiliation when he attempted to apprehend a suspect, who retaliated by punching him and spitting saliva in his face.
Sergeant Ben Musolo narrated before Ndola Resident Magistrate Chinga Chitabo that his fellow police officer was assaulted during routine patrol in Ndeke Township.
This is a case involving Chola Chisenga 26 of Ndeke Township, who is charged with assault of Constable Felidelis Siamenso.
It is alleged that on February 2 this year, in the company of his friend, Chisenga beat up Mr Siamenso as he resisted to be charged for loitering.
Mr Musolo testified that he arrested Chisenga after he was presented with a medical report, showing that Mr Siamenso was assaulted.
He said he read through the docket and found that the officer was assaulted while on duty as he conducted patrols in Ndeke area.
In his defence, Chisenga denied the charge, but stated that Mr Siamenso arrested him and charged him with loitering when he came back from Luanshya with his friend.
He said when he inquired why he was arrested for loitering when he was in a car, the officer allegedly slapped him and pushed him into a police cell for disobeying orders.
Chisenga also alleged that when his friend asked why Mr Siamenso locked him up, his response was that he was stubborn.
“While I was in the cell, I was surprised to be told that I was charged with another offence of assaulting a police officer,” he said.
During cross examination, Chisenga denied being drunk at time he was arrested.
The Magistrate adjourned the matter to April, 15 for continued trial.