POLICE in Lusaka have slapped theft charges on four youths that intercepted 21 mukula tree-laden trucks in Shimabala area on the Lusaka-Kafue highway on December 28 last year.

And Lusaka lawyer Christopher Mundia Jr, who is the quartet’s legal counsel, described the charge as disappointing.

Mundia Jr of CL Mundia and Company confirmed the theft charge last evening.

“What has transpired is that those three young men and a lady – the ones who apprehended those suspected illegally transported mukula logs – what has transpired now is that for some strange reason…Despite them voluntarily calling the media to tell them about their findings, they (police) have decided to charge them with theft and that is why they’ve been in detention for the past three days. They have charged them with theft; they said they stole K30, 000 [and] a cell phone valued at K6, 000 and documents which they say were a property of ZAFFICO,” said Mundia Jr.
“The four charged are Benny Musonda, Robinson Chipili, Augustine Mukuka and Fanny Zimba. They’ve just been granted police bond and they will be advised when we’ll be appearing in court. However, on our end it’s a disappointing development considering that there was no theft that was there. I have never heard of a thing where there is theft and then you call the media to come and witness the theft! Anyway, those are matters for trial and we don’t want to be seen to be prejudicial.”