JOHN KOMBE writes
A 38-YEAR-OLD man of Libuko village in Chongwe has been sentenced to four months imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to Section 87 chapter 309 of the laws of Zambia.
This is a matter in which Webster Zulu was appearing for judgment and sentencing before Chongwe magistrate Kabwe Tembo.
Particulars of the offences are that in the first count, on 5 July 2020 around 08:00 hours the accused allegedly obtained K400 from Paul Mwanza, a trader at Chongwe main market.
The money is alleged to have been obtained on the pretext that he would supply maize to the complainant and yet not.
The court heard that the accused dodged the complainant on their way to collect the merchandise.
In the second count, on 6 June around 16:00 hours the accused obtained money amounting to K400 from Derrick Phiri, a trader in the central Business district of Chongwe.
He promised to supply maize and got the money as down payment purported to be for the transportation of the merchandise.
He evaded the complainant in the CBD when he excused himself by saying that he wanted to buy fuel from the filling station. He went for good and never showed up.
The complainant waited for more than 2 hours and opted to search for him. He reported the matter to police after the search proved futile.
The court heard that the accused was later apprehended by police and the two complainants identified the accused as being the person involved in their separate cases.
On grounds of his own admission of guilt and the overwhelming evidence by the prosecution team the court found the accused guilty and convicted him accordingly.
The court considered that he did not waste the court’s time by voluntarily admitting the charge and that he was a first offender. He was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment with hard labour in both counts. The sentences will run concurrently, the court said.
