Two in court over Baobab land sale

TWO men have appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for illegally selling the famous Baobab land on Kafue road, owned by businessman Mohamed Salama, to a Chinese national using forged documents.

Before Magistrate Greenwell Malumani were Jonathan Frank Van Blerk and Sydney Musonda Kalema who are charged two counts of forgery, contrary to section 342 and 347; and criminal trespass, contrary to section 306A of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

In the first count, it is alleged that on dates unknown but on or about January 29, 2018, Van Blerk and Kalema made a false tax clearance certificate relating to property transfer tax payable on the sale of F/4300/B22 without lawful authority.

In count two, it is alleged that the duo on dates unknown but on or about January 17, 2018, made a false application for consent to assign relating to property number F/4300/B/20, F/4300/B/21 and F/4300/B/22 to Tropical Products Zambia Limited, thereby causing issuance of a consent to assign with intent to register the property in the said company’s names.

In count three, it is alleged that Van Blerk and Kalema, together with an unknown person, on dates unknown but between November 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018, entered property number F/4300/B/1 and 2, and F/4300/B/9, 10 and 11.

Van Blerk and Kalema will take actual plea on March 26, 2018 and Van Blerk was later granted K100, 000 bail in his own recognizance with two working sureties also in their own recognizance.

Van Blerk was arrested last Wednesday and had been in detention since then. He was only expected to be released yesterday upon meeting bail conditions. The other condition was for him to surrender his passport pending trial.

And in his affidavit in support of his complaint, Mr. Salama said it came to his attention that on or about January 25, 2018, a consent to assign was obtained by Van Blerk and Kalema, whilst acting with other persons unknown, for the sale of property number F/4300/21.

“Which in fact was sold at the price of K1, 800,000 and was declared to have been sold at K600, 000 at Ministry of Lands. Further, another consent to assign dated 25th January 2018 was obtained by the accused persons purporting to sell property number F/4300/B/20 at the price of K600, 000 which property does not belong to them.