Lovers docked for theft

JOHN KOMBE writes@SunZambianTWO lovers in Chongwe are in trouble for allegedly stealing a phone and using it to illegally transfer money from a bank account.The lovers, a woman, aged 21 and a man, 22, of Kakubo and Libuko village respectively have appeared in the Chongwe magistrate’s court for theft.They are alleged to have stolen a cell phone and electronically transferring funds from a bank account connected to one of the Sim cards in the phone.This is in a matter where Idah Chimba and Emmanuel Sakala are charged with theft contrary to Section 278 of the penal code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia. They were appearing for commencement of trial before magistrate Kabwe Tembo.Particulars of the matter are that the duo stole a cell phone belonging to Chabo Mpeza. They are also alleged to have later electronically transferred K350 from an ABSA account belonging to the complainant using a mobile account on one of the Sim cards in the phone. The incident is said to have happened on August 1, this year.The mobile phone was an Infinix note 7 and was valued at K4,900.00. The court heard that the phone has not been recovered.The court also heard that the complainant lost the phone while he was having a meal and beverages at a bar and restaurant in Chongwe between 17:00 hours and 22:00 hours.The complainant told the court that he only discovered that the phone was missing when he woke up in the morning at his house.He submitted that a bar attendant who refused to testify in court told him that a lady who sat next to him on the night in question picked the phone. He said that the informer did not suspect anything wrong at the time. He said that he learnt of this when he went to the bar to check whether the attendants had picked a phone.He told the court that he also discovered that some funds in his ABSA account connected to an Airtel simcard had been transferred to an Airtel mobile number. He discovered this when he withdrew funds using a visa card from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).He said that he reported the matter to police who investigated the matter and traced the mobile number that linked the duo to the offence.The mobile number to which the money was transferred is said to belong to Sakala who is Chimba’s lover.The complainant also presented bank statements and a transaction report from Airtel Zambia which were tendered as evidence in court.The court adjourned the matter to November 3 for continued trial while the accused are on bond. The Sun