Theft accused bankers, couple discharged

FIVE bankers and a couple have been discharged in a case they were charged for theft of K64, 838 belonging to Natural Valley Limited. The seven, Ravecious Kaumbu Moonga, Sombwa Musunsa, Hazel Katongo Kashweka, Leah Tembo, Winji April Paseli, Shaon Mwanza and Hilumbe Sean Bbuku, were facing nine counts of theft contrary to section 272 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. It was alleged that the accused persons stole the money between April 31, 2016, and August 4, 2016. The amounts alleged to have been stolen were broken down as follows: K10, 000 (on April 31, 2016), K12, 000 (on May 5, 2016), K25, 000 (on May 5, 2016), K7, 500 (on July 12, 2016), and K631 (on July 13, 2016). The rest were K516 (on July 15, 2016), K1, 311 (on July 21, 2016), K380 (on July 25, 2016), and K7, 500 (on August 4, 2016). It was alleged that one of the accused persons, a former Natural Valley Limited employee, continued to collect cheques from business houses where the company had supplied mineral water, despite expiry of her contract of employment with the water firm. She would then deposit the cheques in her husband’s account after conniving with the bankers. The nolle prosequi presented yesterday before the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court read: “Now, therefore, I, Miyanza Hamanenga Kayombo, Senior State Advocate, on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Republic of Zambia, pursuant to the powers vested in me by section 81 and 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code, authorise the entry in record of proceedings that proceedings are discontinued against Ravecious Kaumbu Moonga, Sombwa Musunsa, Hazel Katongo Kashweka, Leah Tembo, Winji April Paseli, Shaon Mwanza and Hilumbe Sean Bbuku.”