A COMMUNITY Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) officer in Ipusukilo Township lost almost all his teeth when his colleague hit him on his mouth with a short-baton for allegedly stealing K60 from the colleague’s girlfriend. Yotam Zulu had to be rushed to the hospital where he was given braces to keep the teeth in place.

Zulu, who was testifying before the Bulangililo Local Court, said he was in the company of Bwalya, his girlfriend and their boss at the CCPU offices where they were drinking beer. Zulu said in a case he has sued Joseph Bwalya, also a CCPU officer for compensation for assault that after they finished drinking the beer they had bought, his boss gave him some money so that he can buy more beer. Zulu said after he bought the beer, Bwalya’s girlfriend complained to them that she had lost her money which prompted them to suspect him.

He said Bwalya grabbed the plaintiff by his shirt and hit him despite saying he did not steal the money. “Bwalya kept beating me and he later used a short-baton which to hit me on my mouth,” he said. Zulu said his mouth bled profusely until he was rushed to the hospital where he was given braces. He asked the court to order Bwalya to compensate him because he made him go through pain when he hit him.

And Bwalya told the court that he only used a fist to hit Zulu after he stole his girlfriend’s money. He told the court that he had no intentions of hurting his colleague and asked for forgiveness from the court. Bulangililo senior local magistrate Kambole Nyoni upheld the claim and ordered Bwalya to compensate Zulu with K3000 by paying K200 every month.