FOUR Ugandan nationals and two Zambians have appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing various amounts of money belonging to Atlas Mara Bank Limited.

The six are alleged to have intentionally, and without lawful authority accessed Atlas Mara Bank Limited’s banking system, data that is a critical data base and further stolen millions of kwacha on various dates.

In this matter, Patrick Kafula, 38, of Uganda; Austin Daka, 30, Zambian; Vincent Ssempejji, a 29-year-old Hotelier of Uganda, Silvester Apuli, 43 of Uganda; Rashid Kyagulanyi, Ugandan and Makosana Ndolo, a 44-year-old Zambian are facing 84 counts theft, money laundering, unauthorised access to critical data base, conspiracy to defraud and unlawful possession of device primarily designed to overcome security measures for the protection of critical data.

In one of the counts, it is alleged that between January 1, 2020 and July 4, 2020, in Lusaka, Kafula, Ssempejji and Apuli jointly and whilst acting together conspired to defraud Atlas Mara Bank Limited of K6 million by installing software primarily designed to overcome security measures for the protection of critical data.

In another count, it is alleged that between the same dates, Kafula, Ssempejji and Apuli unlawfully possessed two key USB loggers, one USB flash disk and a laptop containing software primarily designed to overcome security measures for the protection of critical data base.

It is also alleged that the six accused persons between December 31, 2019 and January 2, 2020, in Lusaka jointly and whilst acting together did intentionally and without lawful authority, access Atlas Mara Bank’s banking system, data that is critical data base.

In theft charges, the six are alleged to have stolen different amounts of money, property of Atlas Mara Bank Limited.

In money laundering charges, the six accused persons are alleged to have between December 31, 2019 and January 2, 2020 in Lusaka, concealed the establishment of the true nature of K6,198,000 knowing the same to be proceeds of crime.

Its further alleged that Kafula, Daka, Ssempejji, Apuli and Makosan between January 1 and July 4, 2020 in Lusaka, concealed the establishment of the true nature of K8,120,000, knowing the same to be proceeds of crime.

The six accused persons appeared before Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale yesterday.

They are expected to take plea on Monday, November 23, this year.