A 27-year-old Somali national identified as Ali Mohamed, has been convicted by the Isoka Magistrate Court for engaging in employment in Zambia without a valid employment permit.
Ali Mohamed, a truck driver from Ndola District, was apprehended by the Isoka Immigration Office on December 16, 2024, at the Mwaiseni Police Security Checkpoint for engaging in employment as a Truck Driver for Patriot Transport and Trading Limited without an employment Permit.
Immigration Public Relations Officer, Namati Nshinka has told RCV News in a statement in Lusaka today that the court sentenced Ali Mohamed to pay a fine of K10,000 or serve nine months in simple imprisonment.
“On 19th December 2024, Ali Mohamed was convicted for aiding and abetting his undocumented compatriot, Ahmed Said, a 22-year-old Somali national who was discovered hidden behind the cabin of the truck, covered with a blanket.,” said Mr. Nshinka.
He said Ali Mohamed was fined K90,000 or nine months of simple imprisonment for his crime. Meanwhile, Ahmed Said was convicted on 23rd December 2024 for failing to present himself before the nearest immigration officer and was sentenced to a fine of K5,000 or nine months of imprisonment.
Mr. Nshinka said the Isoka judgement brought the number of convictions secured by the Department of Immigration between 23rd and 26th December 2024 to 35.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nshinka said the Department of Immigration on 25th December 2024 successfully removed 50 Ethiopian nationals from Zambia via Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Aboard Ethiopian Airlines, bringing the number of illegal immigrants removed by the Department of Immigration between 23rd and 26th December 2024 to 165.
He also said during the period under review, the Department apprehended 87 persons for various immigration offences countrywide and refused four persons entry for failing to meet entry requirements.
By Margaret Mwanza
