Swiss Porn Peddler In Kasama Denied Bail

A SWISS tourist being tried for possession of obscene material has been denied bail after the State told a Kasama magistrate’s court that he was a flight risk.
Daniel Thomet Benno, 47, of Beitlach Stress 1492540 Grenchen Switzerland, had earlier failed to appear before court as he was reported to be admitted to the psychiatric section of Kasama General Hospital.
His Police bond was, however, revoked upon his discharge from hospital.
Benno, whose case is being presided over by magistrate Monica Mwamulima, applied for bail which State prosecutor Chibengele Mandona objected to.
Mr Mandona told the court that it was difficult for the State to trace Benno’s whereabouts as he had no surety and had been changing residences.
Benno, who pleaded not guilty to the charge he is fcaing, was arrested at Chisupula Village. He later told the court that he was now residing at Green Village Lodge.
Particulars of the case were that Benno was on September 12, 2013 found in possession of cinematographic films containing obscene material.
Benno, who had entered Zambia as a tourist, was at the time of his arrest residing in Chisupula Village in Senior Chief Mwamba’s area in Kasama.
Police had received information of a foreigner that was involved in the production of pornographic material with Zambian women.
A combined team of law enforcement officers from Zambia Police and the Drug Enforcement Commission then searched Benno’s residence in the village after showing him a search warrant.
The officers confiscated on Acer laptop computer, one Canon camera and one Blue Torch touch screen.
On review, the laptop was found to contain a folder saved as ‘Hot Zambian Women’ that allegedly had a video of Benno having sexual intercourse with a local woman.
Benno, who is representing himself, refused services of Legal Aid lawyer Keith Katazo.
Ms Mwamulima set December 27 as the trial date.
Benno is remanded in custody at Milima State Prison.
Meanwhile, the matter in which a former diplomat is charged with procuring girls
and using them as common prostitutes yesterday failed to take off in
the Lusaka magistrate’s court because the arresting officer was not present.
Friday Nkamba, 60, of Emmasdale Township in Lusaka is facing one count
of procuring a child or other for prostitution contrary to Section
140(b) of the Penal Code amendment Act Number 15 b of 2005 of the Laws
of Zambia.