MULENGA MUSONDA writes
@SunZambia
The case in which Choma Magistrates Court acting clerk Martin Biemba is charged with three counts of theft by public servant and money laundering involving over K80, 000 has been adjourned to August 14 for a ruling.
This is in a matter where Biemba is facing three charges in the Choma Subordinates Courts that are alleged to have happened between May and November 2017.
In count one Biemba is alleged to have stolen K80, 480 the property of Choma Judiciary.
In count Two he is accused of tempering with seized property that was in the custody of the court, the same money he is alleged to have stolen.
In the third count, Biemba is charged with money laundering contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
When the matter came up for continued trial before Resident Magistrate Chimuka Mutafela from Kasama Subordinates Court, State Advocate Libuku Muwanei objected to have the matter adjourned because of the defense lawyers absence because they did not file in a notice of adjournment.
The court ruled in favor of the State and the eighth prosecution witness Sibongile Mwansa a senior investigation’s officer from the Drug Enforcement Commission(DEC) Anti Money Laundering Unit took to the stand.
Mwansa testified that she was summoned to give evidence in a case of Kelvin Siakacha and Abigail Munkombwe versus the People in May 2017 in her capacity as the dealing officer.
“On the material day I gave my evidence in chief before the Principal Resident Magistrate Exnobert Zulu where I tendered in 3 motor vehicles, household goods and K80, 480 cash as exhibits,
“At the time I was tendering the exhibits Biemba was the one interpreting after he took over from Peter Nakabanga who the interpreter when the session began earlier that day” Mwansa testified.
She said at the end of hearing on that particular day Biemba picked the plastic bag containing the money together with another envelope that had documents relating to the case.
“In October 2017 I received a call from Public Prosecutor Catherine Siakoola to the effect that the defence of the same case could not take off as the documents were missing. In November of the same year, I received another phone call from Mr Mwilu who is the Criminal Registry Clerk asking if I was keeping the money in question” Mwansa said.
She said when she asked if there was a problem, Mr Mwilu said the money was missing as they could not find it in the safe.
After the judgment was passed DEC received an instruction to have the money banked and when she went to collect it she found a new clerk of court by the name of Chipego Bulambo who told her that an inquiry was underway as the money was missing.
The matter was later taken up by joint team of Choma and Lusaka DEC officers for investigations and Biemba was charged and arrested for the subject offenses.
