Former ADC Chandel Chairman surrenders before Court
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 28 2020: Former Chandel ADC Chairman Lhukhosei Zou, who has been absconding for more than a year, surrendered before the Special Court, ND&PS, Manipur today, and was eventually remanded into judicial custody Lhukhosei Zou (51) s/o (L) Thangmang Zou of Moreh Ward No 2 (presently staying at VIP Quarters No 1) had failed to appear before the Court after he was given interim bail on health ground on December 19, 2018 by the same Court which directed him to appear for hearing on January 2 last year.

After remaining traceless all these times, he suddenly appeared and surrendered before the Court today, and prayed for allowing him a chance to defend himself in the ongoing special trial against him and seven others in connection with a drug seizure case.

The Court registered a cril misc case and heard the counsel of the former Chairman who submitted that on January 5 last year, Lhukhosei Zou was abducted by KNA Eastern Zalengngam (Burma) and detained in Myanmar and interrogated in connection with the case.

As such, he could not appear before the Court which declared him as a proclaimed absconder, the counsel explained, further claiming that Lhukhosei Zou had no intention to abscond from the proceeding of the case and is willing to join the trial.

The Court also heard Special PP of the State who prayed for passing an appropriate order in the case and decided to remand Lhukhosei Zou into judicial custody.

As the Court had earlier fixed tomorrow for hearing of prosecution witnesses, it directed Lhukhosei Zou to be produced for necessary proceedings tomorrow.

The Court also instructed all relevant papers of the charge sheet submitted by the IO to be furnished to the counsel of the former Chairman.

It may be noted that after he failed to appear, the Court, on January 8 last year, forfeited his sureties before labelling him a proclaimed absconder on March 23 the same year.

It may be recalled that on June 19, 2018, a combined team of Narcotic and Affairs of Border (NAB) and Imphal West district police arrested Lhukhosei Zou and seven others along with a huge quantity of heroin and WY tablets (worth Rs 27 crore) and Rs 57,18,000 in cash.

The bust came following the arrest of Esther Vungheinuam of Moreh Ward No 1, Mung Zou alias Aric of Moreh Ward No 3 Gamnom Veng and Teresa Ngaite alias Nengboi of Moreh Ward No 1 from Mantripukhri area the same evening.

Based on their revelation, Thangminlun Zou, driver of the former Chandel ADC Chairman, was arrested from Langol Game Village Zone 1 with a huge consignment of drugs.

Furthermore, police also arrested one Lawrence Zou, a sound recorder at St Joseph's Cathedral Church, Mantripukhri who revealed that more drugs were kept at the VIP quarters of Lhukhosei Zou.

Accordingly, police arrested the former Chairman along with his PRO, Jamkhohao and Minlal Mate, from the quarters along with a huge consignment of drugs.

It was also reported that police recovered one 0.32 prohibited bore (NPB) pistol along with 21 live rounds, a single barrel rifle with two gun licenses, Rs 95,000 in demonetized Indian currency and Rs 13,13,00 in cash from the quarters.

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