WILLIAM Banda, the special adviser to United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema, has been arrested and detained at Woodlands Police Station for allegedly assaulting a Muvi Television camera-person, Lloyd Kapusa.
Mr Banda assaulted Mr Kapusa on Wednesday last week for filming him when he was being taken into a police cell after being arrested over allegations of being in possession of property believed to be proceeds of crime.
Police acting spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga yesterday confirmed the arrest of Mr Banda in an interview.
Mr Hamoonga said Mr Banda had been charged with Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (OABH) contrary to section 248 Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
"I can confirm that Mr Banda has been formally arrested and charged for OABH. He is expected to appear in court soon," Mr Hamoonga said.
He said Mr Banda was arrested at Woodlands Police Station around 16:50 hours.
By Press time yesterday, Mr Hamoonga said, two of Mr Banda's sureties were expected to present their letters of employment for the UPND official to be released on police bond.
And when contacted for a comment, one of Mr Banda's lawyers, Martha Mushipe could neither confirm nor deny the arrest of Mr Banda.
"Yes I am the one representing Mr Banda, he is my client but at the moment ... I can neither confirm nor deny the arrest of Mr Banda because I am also still busy trying to follow up this matter," she said
While at Woodlands Police Station, some of Mr Banda's relatives were also heard alleging that the case had been withdrawn by the complainant but police were bent on persecuting Mr Banda.
Earlier, Mr Banda, who was accompanied by his two lawyers, Ms Mushipe and Milna Katolo, arrived at the police station at 13:23 hours and was interrogated for over one hour 30 minutes before being ushered into the cell.
Scores of his relatives, mostly women, could not hold back their tears as Mr Banda was aided into the cell.
Some of Mr Banda's relatives verbally abused reporters and photographers who jostled to take shots as the opposition official was being led out of the interrogation room.
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