The Ndola Magistrate’s Court has ordered for the arrest of the woman who was indecently assaulted and abducted by five women who accused her of dating a married man.

The victim has disappeared in unclear circumstances prompting the court to issue a bench warrant against her for not appearing before the court.
When the matter came up yesterday for trial before Ndola chief resident magistrate John Mbuzi, senior public prosecutor Varricious Nganga informed the court that the victim, who is the complainant in the matter, is still missing.
He applied to have her brought to court under warrant.

“Your honour, the complainant is still on the run, hence we have an application to make, and that is to have her under warrant returnable on January 21 this year,” he said. He also asked magistrate Mbuzi to allow trial to commence on the same date with or without the victim because the State has already secured two witnesses, her father and the arresting officer.

The defence lawyer did not object to the application. Magistrate Mbuzi granted the application and ordered trial to commence on the same date the victim is expected to be brought to court. On December 26 last year, the matter could not proceed because the victim was reportedly missing. Arresting officer in the matter Francis Banda, from Masala Police Station, told the court that he received a strange phone call from the complainant, who indicated that she would not come back to Ndola.

And the victim’s father, Sheikh Mwanakambwila, a market trader at Masala market, said he did not know where his daughter was.
“I don’t know where my daughter is. I don’t know where she is, and I am still looking for her. She left home on December 7 last year, and that was the last time I saw her,” Mr Mwanakambwila.

It is alleged that on December 1 this year, Precious Kapambwe, 25, Bridget Chisha, 21, Margarete Mwansa, 25, Catherine Banda, 29, and Maureen Mutale, 29, abducted the victim in order to put her in danger of being subjected to grievous bodily harm. The women allegedly further unlawfully indecently assaulted the victim by inserting a beer bottle between her legs.

They were arrested after the victim reported the matter to police following the ordeal which was captured on video and circulated on social media platforms. It is alleged that on the material day, in Ndola’s New Mushili Township, the victim was having drinks at Start Point bar in Masala township with Harrison Mwanza, Kapambwe’s husband.

While at the drinking place, Kapambwe showed up in the company of her four friends. It is alleged that upon seeing his wife, Kapambwe’s husband run away leaving the victim alone. The victim was then bundled in a motor vehicle to Kapambwe’s home where she was allegedly subjected to inhumane treatment and