GLORIA KANGWA writes
@SunZambian
A WITNESS told the Solwezi High Court in North-Western Province that two men sold him stolen telecommunications installations belonging to MTN Zambia.
This is in a case in which Gracious Mpande and Kelvin Njamba jointly charged with one count of vandalism.
Particulars of offence are that on 19 September 2018, the suspects broke into Solwezi College of Education installation area where they willfully and maliciously vandalized telecommunications installations, such as batteries thereby disrupting the network system essential for provision of a necessary service for the district.
The duo removed 5 batteries worth K9, 000.00.
Mr David Kayombo, a grocery store owner of Kipemba Village, told Judge Isaac Kamwendo that on the fateful day at around 07:00hrs while at his store he was approached by two men who told him that they were selling batteries.
He said as he needed the batteries for lighting up his store he asked for the price.
He was charged K600 for both batteries by one of the accused but he later negotiated until they agreed on K500.
Mr Kayombo said that the batteries were tested by one of the accused and he later gave them a down payment of K350 and told them to come and collect the balance later.
After paying them the duo took off but he later discovered that using the batteries was impossible and he therefore decided to call them back on the phone to reverse the deal.
He further said when the men returned they came with police who took the batteries he had been sold.
The witness told the court that on their way to the police station they passed through the vandalised place where the batteries were stolen from.
Kayombo said he also arrested on reaching the police station but was released two days later.
Trial continues today for more witnesses to be presented by the State.
