Former Finance Minister Ignatious Chombo’s bid to have his passport released temporarily was dismissed by the court ZBC News reports. Chombo who has previously applied to have his passport to travel to neighbouring South Africa for medical reasons was denied again after he made the same application this month. The magistrate who denied his application said if given his passport Chombo is likely to abscond his trial which is set for next month.
According to ZBC News:
In dismissing his application the magistrate ruled that Chombo through his defence counsel deliberately omitted to mention one of the cases in which he was given a trial date set for October saying if he was to cross borders, he is likely to abscond.
Chombo is facing criminal abuse of office and fraud charges. He had applied for his passport to be released between 5 and 26 September 2019.
More: ZBC News