the Supreme Court of Zambia commuted the death sentences handed down to Roderick Tembo...

the Supreme Court of Zambia commuted the death sentences handed down to Roderick Tembo, a police officer, and Mutemwa Mutoloka, an accomplice, for aggravated robbery and instead sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour. The High Court had jointly sentenced the two after convicting them of robbing a Makeni businessman of cash and property valued at about K9 million (approximately 1,800 EU) in 2001. But the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Chirwa, Chibesakunda and Chitengi overturned the death sentences. Tembo, a police officer based at Chunga police station, together with Mutoloka and three unknown accomplices, had gone to the businessman's house saying they wanted to search the house for drugs. The duo were armed with AK 47 riffles. The businessman's wife told the purported officers that her husband was out but they insisted at gun point to conduct a search of the property. They left with a briefcase containing K8 million in cash, a wristwatch and a gold chain. They were later arrested.