SUSPENDED Patriotic Front Eastern Province youth chairperson Emmanuel Banda, commonly known as Jay Jay, and four others have been dragged to court for allegedly assaulting a police officer at Lusaka Central Police Station, with intent to steal.

Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale could, however, not explain the charge to the accused persons yesterday as only four appeared before him.

Banda, who was absent, was reportedly in police custody in Chipata and scheduled to appear before the Subordinate Court there.

The accused persons in this matter are: Banda, 35, a businessman of Petauke, Eastern Province; John Lungu, 26, a general worker of Garden House, Lusaka; Maxwell Pito, 20, a peasant farmer of Lusaka West; Moses Silyonde, 27, unemployed of Kanyama and Lyford Phiri, 21, unemployed, of unknown residential address.

It is alleged that on July 6, 2020 in Lusaka, the five jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown and with intent to steal, assaulted Allan Mbahwe.

Banda is being represented by lawyers Jonas Zimba, Osborne Ngoma and James Matarilo.

When the matter came up for explanation of the charge before Magistrate Mwale, Monday, only Lungu, Pito, Silyonde and Phiri were present.

After Magistrate Mwale questioned Banda’s whereabouts, the accused’s surety James Sakala explained to the Court that Banda was in police custody in Chipata and was scheduled to appear in the Subordinate Court there.

Magistrate Mwale then adjourned the matter to Friday for explanation of the charge.

In another matter, a Lusaka man and his company have been dragged to the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for allegedly engaging in immigration consultancy without lawful authority.

In this matter, Louis Nyongani and Louis Nyongani Company Limited are charged with three counts of illegal consultancy.

In count one, it is alleged that Nyongani on June 2, 2020 in Lusaka, engaged or conducted himself in the profession of immigration consultancy without lawful authority.

In count two, it is alleged that on June 16 this year in Lusaka, Nyongani engaged or conducted himself in the profession of immigration consultancy without lawful authority.

In the last count, it is alleged that Louis Nyongani Company Limited between June 2 and 16, this year in Lusaka, engaged in immigration consultancy without lawful authority.

Meanwhile, a 36-year-old registration officer has also been dragged to court for allegedly obtaining K5,000 from another by falsely pretending that he will renew his passport.

In this matter, Sekeli Mutukwa of Lusaka’s Woodlands area has been charged with obtaining money by false pretences.

It is alleged that on February 27, 2020, in Lusaka, Mutukwa, with intent to deceive or defraud obtained K5,000 cash from Jones Dumisani Pemba by falsely pretending that he will renew his passport when in fact not.