Forged road toll receipts land trio in docks

MULENGA MUSONDA writes THREE men in Muchinga Province have appeared in the Nakonde Magistrates Court charged with 13 Counts, among them forging Road Toll Receipts and Theft involving way over US$430,000. Temba Mulako ,28, an Operations Manager, Titus Kaponda ,32, his Assistant and Felix Kaonga ,31, a messenger all employees of Tefami Construction and Supplier are facing 13 counts of Forgery, Uttering of False Documents, Fraudulent False Accounting and Theft by Servants contrary to the Laws of Zambia. It is alleged that the 3 jointly and whilst acting together stole $430,243 and K79,593 equivalent to K7,700,000 money that came into their possession by virtue of their employer Tefami Construction. In 4 counts, Mulako and Kaponda are accused of forging payment vouchers  purporting that they were issued by Tefami Construction when in fact not. The two are further accused of forging Road Toll Receipts purpoting that they were issued by the National Road Fund Agency when in fact not. Kaonga is also facing 4 counts of uttering false documents namely Payment Vouchers and Road Toll receipts purporting that they were issued by Tefami Construction and NRFA respectively when in fact not. In 2 counts Mulako and Kaponda are accused of falsifying accounting details (Payment Vouchers) of Tefami Construction. The incidents are said to have happened in the early months of 2020 in Nakonde district. When the three appeared for plea before Resident Magistrate George Banda, Mulako who is also an IT specialist was visibly seen tightly holding criminal Novel by Bestselling Crime novelist John Grisham in his hands as he entered the Dock. When the Court read all the charges to them, they strongly denied any wrong doing compelling the Court to record pleas of not guilty in all the 13 counts. The matter was adjourned to 31 August for commencement of trial. The three are on police bond. The Sun