A Ugandan traditional healer has been dragged to court for swindling a Lusaka resident by pretending that she could multiply his K20,300 to K100,000.

Betty Nachijuma and her secretary Asha Monela of Kamwala area are facing a charge of obtaining money by false pretenses.

The accused persons, who appeared before magistrate Albert Mwaba, could not take plea due to language barrier.

The court set January 3, 2018 for plea in order to facilitate for a Ugandan interpreter.

Details are that Betty, 32, and Asha between December 3 and 9, 2017 obtained the said cash from David Mandona on pretext that they could multiply in into K100,000 when in fact not.

Betty, who is also known as Mama Joy, tricked Mandona who called her for help in finding a job.

Mandona learnt of Mama Joy through an advert which appeared in The Mast newspaper where she claimed that she used her charms to help people find jobs.

But instead of helping him find a job, Mama Joy convinced him to let her multiply his money using spiritual powers of her forefathers.

After obtaining his money, Mama Joy and her assistant attempted to bolt but were apprehended by police.