Johannesburg – Zambian authorities this week impounded a private aircraft at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka while awaiting a take-off permit.
Authorities in Zambia have also detained 10 people – crew and eight passengers – who were on the plane.
The crew and passengers of the private San Remo registered aircraft that flew from Cairo and landed in Lusaka, Zambia, on Monday, for refueling and to pick up a prominent South African businessman on his way to Johannesburg.
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The businessman on board with his entourage and security detail, armed with fully licensed handguns, were forced physically to disembark.
Their passports were taken, and they were placed under custody, first at the airport, and later at a police station in Lusaka.
The detained South African businessman has been named by Zambian publications.
But on Thursday, Law firm Antoine Vey & Associates accused Zambian authorities of breaching the country’s constitution.
“Zambian authorities have committed a major violation of their own constitution, and in disregard of due process enshrined in the legislative systems of UN member states, in the detainment of an in-transit private aircraft, its crew, and its eight passengers,” said Antoine Vey, the founding lawyer of Vey & Associés (www.Vey-Associes.com).
Vey said the detained crew and passengers have been exposed to inhumane conditions for the last 72 hours with no access and no legal counsel.
The aircraft was impounded at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka on Monday, (14 August 2023), while awaiting a take-off permit.
Zambian authorities detained its passengers and confiscated cash and sophisticated mineral testing equipment that was on board and destined for the business activities of the planes lessee.
This occurred while passengers on board were issuing SOS messages to airport and police authorities while a group of armed robbers was attempting to board the plane and threaten their safety.
“No charges have been made against anyone since the detention,” said Vey.
Vey said the detainees have been subjected to inhumane treatment, denied access to legal counsel, and deprived of proper food, sleep, and basic sanitary conditions.
Repeated demands for medical help by the ailing were left unheeded, Vey said.
“The contents of the aircraft, including the personal belongings of the passengers, have been seized with incomplete and doctored official records, especially for cash, that fall short by very considerable amounts of what was actually on board,” said Vey.
He said Vey & Associates was engaging with Zambian authorities who “are thus far releasing minimal information” about the motives behind these detainments.
I have taken the decision to dispatch one of my offices senior human rights counsels to document and monitor the various violations of domestic and international law being committed in Zambia, as well as the risks faced by international businesses seeking to do business in ‘The Continent of The Future’,” said Vey.
“The man has just landed in Lusaka.
Vey demanded the immediate release of the detainees to proper living conditions in a hotel pending the completion of the so-called investigation within a maximum of 48 hours.
Vey said this was to be followed by unconditional approval for the aircraft and its passengers, with all their confiscated belongings, to depart Kenneth Kaunda International Airport “after receiving adequate apologies for the gross mistreatment they have received for no fault of their own”.
“The international community at large, and the African Union in particular, are called upon to closely monitor the developments of this matter over the coming few days, Vey said.
However, Zambian authorities insist they acted above board after millions of US dollars and suspected gold were found on the private jet before it was impounded.
BIG FIND: Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission conducted an operation at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and seized a private jet that was scheduled to leave the country with at least US$11 million in cash, weapons, and suspected gold
