An unrepentant well-known drug dealer who was previously convicted of trafficking marrijuanna in 2019 and sentenced to three years in jail with hard labor has now been found guilty of the same crime once more.
Allan Muvundo, 29, will now spend a sentence of at least 10 years in prison because he is a repeat offender.
Muvundo admitted to drug trafficking and three other counts and was yesterday referred to the High Court for punishment. Lusaka Magistrate Keggan Litiya had heard his plea.
“Since i have no jurisdiction, i commit you to the High Court for mitigation and sentencing in respect of count one and count two[which are drug trafficking related]” magistrate Litiya said.
In this instance, the defendant was charged with five counts of drug trafficking, eluding capture, and illegal use of a vehicle.
Five months ago, during an interview, the suspect fled the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) headquarters while brandishing a weapon, sending officers scrambling in terror.
Muvundo was apprehended after a manhunt, and he later appeared in court to answer to five accusations.
According to count one, Muvundo allegedly trafficked 6 grams of cannabis illegally in Lusaka on December 20, 2022.
According to count two, the defendant is accused of illegally trafficking 0.57 grams of cocaine on the same day.
According to claims made in court three, on December 20, 2022, Muvundo drove an unregistered Toyota Vitz to transport, hide, and carry psychotropic drugs without a valid license.
In count four, it is alleged that on the same day, when he fled the DEC offices, the defendant behaved in a way that was likely to disturb the peace in a public area.
Last but not least, it is claimed that Muvundo, a person who was lawfully in the custody of DEC police, fled from that custody on the same date.
The court was informed by the evidence that DEC had been looking for the accused in relation to narcotics trafficking.
When detectives went to East Park Mall in July of last year after receiving information from DEC investigators that the accused was trafficking in drugs inside the mall, they encountered Muvundo, who promptly fled in a Vitz that he left at Kalingalinga after running out of petrol.
In his abandoned car, authorities discovered a revolver with 26 rounds of ammo and some marijuana-looking substances.
The courageous defendant went to DEC officials to claim his seized automobile in the same month, but while being questioned, he confronted them before fleeing while brandishing a pistol.
For offenses three through five, Magistrate Litiya sentenced Muvundo to nine months in prison.
However, the magistrate referred Muvundo to the High Court for sentencing because of counts one and two, which carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison for a second drug trafficker like Muvundo.
Judges are not allowed to impose sentences more than nine years.
