Three of the five women who allegedly indecently assaulted another woman using a bottle on suspicion that she was having an affair with a married man were yesterday released from custody after meeting bail conditions. Two are still in custody and are battling to look for money to pay for bail pending trial.

The Ndola Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday rejected the women’s application to vary their bail conditions. When the matter came up for hearing the application in chambers, Ndola chief resident magistrate John Mbuzi dismissed their application stating that he could not vary the bail conditions because it was made before his own court.

He, however, advised the defence team to apply in the High Court if they were not satisfied with his decision. On Monday this week, magistrate Mbuzi granted the five women K10,000 cash bail with two working sureties in the sum of K30,000 in their own recognisance.

But their lawyers applied to have the bail conditions varied because the women failed to meet the bail requirements. In this matter, Precious Kapambwe, 25, Bridget Chisha, 21, Margarete Mwansa, 25, Catherine Banda, 29, and Maureen Mutale, 29, are charged with abduction and indecent assault on a female.

It is alleged that on December 1, this year, Kapambwe, Chisha, Mwansa, Banda and Mutale abducted the victim in order to put her in danger of being subjected to grievous bodily harm. The women also unlawfully indecently assaulted the victim. They were arrested after the victim reported the matter to police.

Magistrate Mbuzi said trial will commence next week.Two witnesses