A police officer has named former Western Province Commissioner Fanwell Siandenge as one of the people behind the aggravated robbery case where some Presidential election results among other things were allegedly stolen after the August 11, 2016 general elections.

In this matter, UPND members Obvious Mwaliteta, Evans Mukobela, Macmillan Shimukonka, Laswell Phiri, and Emmanuel Mumbi charged with aggravated robbery.

In the first count, they are alleged to have on August 14, 2016 stolen a handbag containing various documents valued at K750, an envelope containing Gen Form 12 and a record of proceedings for Chingola Constituency from Elina Nyirenda, the property of the ECZ.

In count two, the five are accused of stealing a Blackberry cell phone valued at K4,000, the property of Emmanuel Simbeye and immediately or before threatened to use actual violence on the latter.

Mwaliteta and others are in the third count accused of having stolen statements of results (Gen 12 form) from Roy Kuseka, property of the Electoral Commission of Zambia and used or threatened to use actual violence on him in order to obtain, prevent or overcome resistance from it being stolen and retained.

In his testimony today, Arthur Shonga, a superintendent told Lusaka High Court Judge Mwape Bowa that during some of his investigations, he discovered that Siandenge was part of the robbery.

Shonga further testified that on the material day, he was on duty when he received a report of aggravated robbery in which some officials from ECZ were attacked after they landed at City Airport.

He says he rushed to ECZ headquarters where he found three returning officers, Elina Nyirenda, Emmanuel Simbeye and Roy Kuseka who were attacked and had some presidential election results stolen from them together with personal belongings.

Shonga narrated that the police officer he found at the scene showed him a BMW motor vehicle and Toyota Mark II with a phone abandoned by the assailants.

He availed that the officer also informed him that while he was holding the Alcatel phone which was found in the Mark II, it rang and it indicated “Compo Siandenge”, which is a telegraphic address for Commissioner of Police.

He told the court that there was once a Commissioner by the name of Siandenge in the police service.

Shonga said one of the suspects told him during an interview as to why they were at the scene that they had been instructed by Siandenge.

Shonga further told the court that the officer he had found told him he had intercepted a Land Cruiser motor vehicle which was being driven by Mwaliteta and Siandenge as one of the occupants.

Shonga further testified that his investigations revealed that there was communication between some of the accused persons and Siandenge.

Shonga claimed that three ECZ officials were beaten, pepper sprayed and sustained injuries during the robbery.

He says the incident happened between Zambia Air Force and ECZ headquarters as the three were trying to deliver election materials from Chingola and Ndola after they landed at City Airport.

Recently, Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja recently offered a K100,000 reward to anyone who would lead to Siandenge’s arrest.

“The Zambia Police Service is offering a K100,000 reward to any person or persons with information that would lead to the arrest of a fugitive Fanwell Siandenge, who is on a wanted list for the offence of aggravated robbery,” said Kanganja.

Trial continues.