High Court of Zambia - 1979 February

6 judgments

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6 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
February 1979
Arrest was unlawful for lack of reasonable suspicion; police misuse of bonds for investigations improper; K750 awarded for false imprisonment.
Criminal procedure — Arrests — Requirement of reasonable suspicion at time of arrest; police may not arrest merely to make enquiries — Improper use of police bond to secure periodic attendance at police station — False imprisonment damages — Consent to police inspection defeats trespass claim.
22 February 1979
A stay and discretionary transfer are prerequisites to setting aside a default judgment; applicant must show a bona fide triable defence.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution – Transfer between Subordinate Court and High Court – Discretion of District Registrar – Re-transfer – Setting aside default judgment – Leave to defend – Requirement of bona fide application and triable issue – Misconceived combined summons.
22 February 1979
A Class II magistrate may impose consecutive sentences exceeding three years aggregate; HC confirmation required for parts over one year.
Criminal law – Sentencing – Magistrate Class II jurisdiction – Maximum three years per count – Lawful imposition of concurrent or consecutive sentences producing aggregate exceeding three years – Confirmation by High Court required for sentence portions exceeding one year – ss.7(iv), 9(3), 217(1),(2) CPC.
19 February 1979
An appeal from a deputy registrar acting on a judge’s referral is to a higher court, not to a judge in chambers.
Civil procedure — Appeals from registrar/deputy registrar — Where registrar acts on a judge’s referral, decision treated as judge’s decision; appeal lies to higher court, not judge in chambers — High Court may follow English practice under s.10 Cap.50 (White Book O.58 r.2).
11 February 1979
An election petition may challenge a primary election result; the High Court has jurisdiction and time runs from the primary declaration.
Election law – primary elections – election petitions – construction of "election" and "member" – High Court jurisdiction under Art.77 – Electoral Act ss.17, 20(3), 20(4) – statutory construction to avoid absurdity.
4 February 1979
If no offence is proved, a court may return an exhibit to the person from whose possession it was taken, including a bona fide purchaser.
Criminal procedure — Disposal of exhibits (s.355 CPC) — Return to person from whose possession exhibit taken where no offence proved — Bona fide purchaser — Civil remedies for price or title.
1 February 1979