The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has ordered the state to give Dr Fred M’membe’s wife Mutinta a charge so that she can prepare her defence.

This is the matter in which she is accused of obstructing police officers on duty.

When the matter was called for commencement of trial before magistrate Faides Hamaundu yesterday, defence lawyers that included Mulambo Haimbe, Keith Mweemba, Sashi Kateka and Ngosa Simachela informed the court that the accused person had not been served with the indictment, hence it was difficult for them to get instructions.

The lawyers submitted that despite the accused having taken plea during the last sitting, she as not availed with the indictment.

The defence team applied that the indictment be availed in order for them to study it and get instructions on how to proceed.

Ruling on the application, magistrate Hamaundu ordered the state to avail her with an indictment.

“I order the prosecution to avail a copy of the indictment to the accused as requested. There is no harm in availing the accused with the indictment so that she can prepare her defence adequately, ” ruled magistrate Hamaundu.

The state prosecution team then passed on a copy of the indictment to the defence and later defence lawyer Mweemba applied for an adjournment saying his team needed more time to get further instructions.

The matter was adjourned to April 6 for trial.

The allegation is that Mutinta, 39, a Lusaka businesswoman on February 15 this year obstructed police officers engaged in lawful execution of a search warrant.

She denied the charge.