Three police officers have pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of counterfeit notes.

Trio identified as Maybin Kasezya, 44 , Joyford Mambwe, 29, and Maureen Nawa of Chipata, Monze and Senanga respectively denied the charge before Lusaka magistrate Muzambalika Simwatachella, Tuesday.

They are alleged to have been in possession of 24,478 pieces of K100 notes believed to have been fake currency.

Magistrate Simwatachella granted the trio bail at a sum of K20, 000 each to be paid in their own recognizance and two working Lusaka-based sureties to pay a sum of K30,000 in their own recognizance.

This followed an application by their lawyer Shadrek Mbewe of Keith Mweemba Advocates who submitted that the accused were entitled to principles of presumption of innocence and their likelihood to attend court whenever the matter came up.

“Your honor the accused have pleaded not guilty and they are entitled to principles of innocence until the state proves the case beyond reasonable doubt and finds them guilty. They are of fixed abode. We humbly request that you take into consideration provisions of section 123 of the criminal procedure code and bail being at your discretion, we pray that you grant our application” said Mbewe.

In his response, state prosecutor Change Jere could not object the bail application but asked the court to set conditions that would compel Mambwe and others to attend court.

The matter comes up on March 6, 2018 for trial.