A LAWYER, a legal assistant and a businessman have been taken to court for allegedly swindling five people out of K600,000 on pretext that they had land for sale in Lusaka’s Baobab area when they did not have it. The suspects are Germano Kaulung’ombe, 55, a lawyer of Avondale, Stanley Tembo, 50, a legal assistant of Chelstone, and Leonard Nyoni, 37, a businessman of Makeni. The accused are facing six counts of forcible detainer and obtaining money by false pretences.

Between July 18 and 23 this year, the trio allegedly illegally had farm F/4300/B/2 in Baobab area. They allegedly had the farm in a manner likely to cause breach of peace or reasonable apprehension of peace against Joseph Chishyaka, who was legally entitled to own the property. In the second count, it is alleged that over the same period, with intent to defraud, the trio allegedly obtained K200,000 from Ronney Kamanya by pretending that they had a piece of land for sale, when in fact not.

In the third count and between the same dates, the three allegedly got K100,000 from Dorothy Soko under the pretext that they had land for sale when they did not have.

It is further alleged in the fourth count that over the same period, the trio obtained K100,000 from Marson Moonga by pretending to have land for sale when they did not have it. In the fifth count, over the same period, the three allegedly obtained K100,000 from Phillip Muyumbwana by pretending that they had land for sale when they did not.

In the last count, and over the same period, Kaulung’ombe, Tembo and Nyoni allegedly obtained K100,000 from Utembele Simwinga by pretending that they had land for sale. Yesterday, the three men appeared before Lusaka chief resident magistrate Lameck Mwale and denied the charges.

The case was adjourned to September 3 this year for starting of trial. Meanwhile, a Lusaka lawyer has withdrawn his legal representation for a 53-yearold man accused of engaging in unnatural practices with a 17-year-old pupil. Christopher Mundia will no longer provide legal services to Douglas Watt, a farmer of Chisamba.

Watt and a 17-year-old boy are facing two counts of unnatural offences and two counts of possession of obscene material. It is alleged that between May and July 17 this year, Watt had carnal knowledge of the boy against the order of nature.

When the matter came up yesterday before magistrate Mwale, the State said it was not ready to proceed with trial. The court also heard that Mr Mundia will no longer represent Watt, who has engaged another attorney. September 4 this year has been set as date for beginning of trial.