By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

THE Department of Immigration has recorded warn and caution statements from 12 of the 149 detainees who were arrested almost two weeks ago in Chibolya and Kabwata townships.
Department of Immigration public relations officer Namati Nshinka said in a statement that by close of business on Friday last week, the Department had recorded warn and caution statements from 12 of the 149 detainees who were arrested on July 27, 2014 in Chibolya and Kabwata townships in an operation conducted by a joint team of the department, police and Registrar of Societies.
“Of the 12, 10 have been charged for the offence of leaving a refugee camp without authority contrary to section 31(4) of the Immigration and Deportation Act number 18 of 2010 while two were charged for unlawful stay.
“They will soon be appearing in court. Further, nine of the detained were released after producing proof of their legal immigration status. The recording of statements is set to continue,” Mr Nshinka said.
Meanwhile, a magistrate’s court in Solwezi has convicted two Tanzanians for working without employment permits while two Burundians and two Rwandese Refugees have been convicted for leaving a refugee camp without authority.
The six were sentenced to a fine of K 1,000 each or in default, four months simple imprisonment.
A magistrate’s court in Kapiri Mposhi also on Friday convicted and sentenced a Congolese to a fine of K6,000 or in default 16 months imprisonment for unlawful entry.
The same court also convicted and sentenced another Congolese to a fine of K1,000 or in default nine months simple imprisonment for unlawful stay.
Mr Nshinka said the Immigration Department in Chipata, on Friday deported 44 Malawians from Zambia.
The 44 who were detained for various immigration related offences were deported via Mwami Border Control.