A 36-year-old Kitwe businesswoman, Khadija Mingel, known for her flashy lifestyle and striking beauty, has been convicted for trafficking 500 grammes of cocaine.
The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced Mingel to three years imprisonment, with half the term suspended. She will therefore serve 18 months.
Mingel, a mother of two, appeared remorseful during the proceedings, pledging to turn her life around and become a better role model for her “bundros of joy.”
Her lawyer, Griffin Shamililo, appealed for leniency, describing her as a first-time offender, a mother, and a young woman capable of contributing positively to society if given a second chance.
The court heard that Mingel had been under surveillance by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for months before her arrest in May last year, and was believed to be a major supplier in the Copperbelt region.
Read More: Drug Enforcement Commission records major arrests as ‘Operation Kufeza’ intensifies
She was intercepted while driving a Toyota Mark X, where officers discovered 25 pellets of cocaine concealed in the vehicle.
Delivering judgment, Magistrate Peter Mungala acknowledged her remorse and the mitigating factors but stressed that the offence carried a mandatory minimum sentence.
“The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convict had full control of the drugs, intended for commercial purposes,”
the magistrate said.
Mingel, who had already spent several months in custody prior to sentencing, appeared remorseful as the ruling was read. Her lawyer urged the court to view the sentence as correctional rather than purely punitive.
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