September 2007
Kasama Woman Walks To Freedom
By Madube Pasi Siyauya
THE Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) in Kasama has assisted a woman be released from Mpika Prison after setting the records straight.
Astridah Miyoba was assisted when Kasama Paralegal Deogracious Mutale conducted a mobile clinic at Mpika Prison.
Miyoba who was serving a six months sentence after she was found in possession of a fire arm, had continued to be in detention a month after she had completed her sentence,
Facts of the matter were that Miyoba was arrested in July 2006 and was in detention from then until November when she was sentenced to six months imprisonment with effect from the day of her arrest.
When her warrant was being typed, it did not reflect what the late Magistrate Gona said.
Miyoba was supposed to be released in December according to the conviction. Mutale visited the prison in December when Miyoba made a complaint to him.
However, Mutale, was not able to assist her because court officers were not working at that time.
Mutale made another follow up in February this year and found that the record showed that the conviction was from the date of arrest.
According to the calculation, Miyoba was supposed to have been released on December 30 2006.
The record was then taken to the Officer- in-Charge who authorised her release on February 7 2007.
Mutale advised Miyoba that the one month that she stayed in jail after the completion of her sentence constituted unlawful detention and that she could sue the State for compensation if she so wished.