CHALI MULENGA, Livingstone
LIVINGSTONE resident magistrate Chinkashi Chilingala is concerned that people in the habit of withdrawing criminal cases not only waste the court’s time but also resources.
Mr Chilingala said this last Friday after Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWASCO) managing director Charles Shindaile made an application to withdraw the case against Mary Mandubasi, 35, a cashier,  charged with 27 counts of fraudulent false accounting, uttering a false document and theft by servant.
It is alleged that Mandubasi committed the offences on unknown dates last year.
When the matter came up for trial, Mr Shindaile made an application to withdraw the criminal charges against Mandubasi.
“The family of the accused person approached management over the matter and they committed themselves in the matter. We also have considered that she is young and that is how we have come to court to make this application,” Mr Shindaile said.
He said management had a meeting over the matter and resolved to withdraw the case.
“At first she was adamant but this time around she has also pleaded with the company,” Mr Shindaile said.
But Mr Chilingala advised people against reporting cases to the police which they end up withdrawing from the courts.
“Why do you complain and then withdraw cases from the court. Were you not alive to the consequences?” he asked.
He wondered whether SWASCO was not aware of the reasons advanced to the court when it reported the matter to the police.