Guard, Supplier Held Over Theft of Over K2m Cosmetics

By MONICA KAYOMBO
THE Ndola Magistrate Court has put a security guard and a general supplier on their defence after finding them with a case to answer for allegedly stealing cosmetics worth K2,185,899 from Vitafro Zambia Limited.
This is in the case of Justine Simfukwe, 38, and Peter Nyirenda, 39, of Ndola, who are charged with possession of stolen property. The offence is contrary to Section 318 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that Simfukwe and Nyirenda on July 10, 2013 were found in possession of stolen products belonging to Vitafro Zambia Limited.
In his ruling on Wednesday, magistrate Estone Kafunyi said the State had established a prima facie case against Simfukwe and Nyirenda to warrant them to be put on their defence.
“The evidence adduced by the three prosecution witnesses is overwhelming and I have no doubt that whatever they said is what transpired,” Mr Kafunyi said.
In his defence, Nyirenda said he was not aware that the cosmetics he was keeping in his house were stolen.
Nyirenda’s wife, Esnart Phiri, 36, told the court that her husband and Simfukwe have been friends since childhood.
Ms Phiri testified that on July 10, 2013, her husband received a phone call from Simfukwe to inform him that he (Simfukwe) was bringing some goods to their house because the vehicle he was using to transport the merchandise to Solwezi had broken down.
Ms Phiri narrated that Simfukwe brought assorted hair and skin products and told her and Nyirenda to keep the goods for him while he made arrangements for transport.
Ms Phiri said the following day, Simfukwe returned to their house and asked the couple to help him find customers within Twapia to buy his products so that he could raise money to buy spare parts for his vehicle.
She told the court that she sold some of the creams to a shop-owner at K100.
Ms Phiri explained that she was shocked to receive news from the shop-owner that the products she had sold him were stolen from Vitafro Zambia Limited.
Ms Phiri testified that she knew Simfukwe as a credible supplier of goods.
Mr Kafunyi adjourned the case to August 9, 2013 for judgment.

Posted by Editor on August 3, 2013. Filed under CRIME. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry