The Kitwe Magistrate Court has acquitted five police officers that were charged with one count of theft by public servant.

Particulars of the offence were that on 25th October, 2017 Levinus Mukana, Richard Sailoni, Swift Mumbai, Prince Kabwe and Gedion Longer whilst acting together with other persons unknown did steal 1,527.30 kilograms of Copper Cathodes valued at K 102, 487 from an impounded truck believed to have been carrying stolen copper.

However, the state called twelve witnesses among them a security guard and the arresting officer to prove the case.

In her ruling, Magistrate Chongo Musonda acquitted the five police officers on the basis that the state had failed to prove the case behind reasonable doubt.

She stated that the evidence provided was not enough to warrant her to put the five police officers on their defence.