A DIRECTOR at Vikaram Investments Limited has been taken to court for allegedly stealing US$200,000 from the company. This is in a case in which Yaddula Vinod, 40, a businessman of 10 Miles on Great North Road, is charged with theft by director. Between January 1, 2017 and December 11, 2018, in Lusaka, being a director of Vikaram Investments Limited, Vinod allegedly stole US$200,000 (about K2.7 million) from the same company. When the matter came up yesterday for plea before Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale, Vinod denied the charge. Through his lawyer Mulambo Haimbe, Vinod applied for bail pending trial, which was granted since the State did not object to the application. Magistrate Mwale granted Vinod bail in the sum of K20,000 cash with two working sureties bound in the sum of K50,000, but in their own recognisance. The case was adjourned to January 28 this year for trial. Meanwhile, a police officer, a male nurse and three others have been taken to court for allegedly assaulting two people.

The accused are Richard Ng’andu, 31, a supervisor of Kabangwe, Mathias Zulu, 38, a police officer of Matero North, and Chibinda Hamoonga, a nurse of Matero East. The rest are Tom Mundebele, 33, of Garden Township, and Gift Mumba, 32, of Matero East, both mechanics. They are charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. On December 17 last year, the five allegedly assaulted Genny Moyo and Fales Kayezya and occasioned them actual bodily harm. The five, who are on police bond, were not before court when the case came up for allocation before Magistrate Mwale yesterday.

In another matter, a businessman of Kabanana area in Lusaka has been taken to court for allegedly personating a police officer and stealing K400. This is in a case David Banda, 46, is charged with personating a public officer and theft. On January 3 this year in Lusaka, Banda impersonated himself as a public officer, namely a police officer in the Zambia Police Service. In the second count, it is alleged that on the same date, Banda stole K400 from Jackson Mumba. When the case came up for allocation, Banda, who is in custody, was not before court. He will appear for his plea before Magistrate Albert Mwaba on a later date