A PATRIOTIC Front Mandevu constituency aspiring candidate has been dragged to the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining money from a Chinese national by pretending that he had Mukula logs and authority from ZAFFICO to sell, when in fact not.

Amon Maviya, a businessman, is in this matter charged with five counts of forgery, uttering false documents and obtaining goods by false pretences.

In count one, it is alleged that on August 3, 2020 in Lusaka, Maviya with intent to deceive or defraud forged a document namely a Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporations (ZAFFICO) acknowledgement of receipt dated August 8, 2020, by purporting to show that it was genuinely issued and signed by ZAFFICO when in fact not.

In count two, it is alleged that on August 8, 2020 in Lusaka, Maviya knowingly and fraudulently uttered the said document, namely, ZAFFICO acknowledgement of receipt dated August 8, 2020, to Min Jae Kwon.

In count three, it is alleged that on August 1, 2020, Maviya with intent to deceive or defraud forged a document, namely, Approval of Lifting Containers by TSHL of China dated August 3, 2020, by purporting to show that it was genuinely issued and signed by Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

In count four, it is alleged that Maviya on August 3, 2020, in Lusaka knowingly and fraudulently uttered a document, namely, Approval of Lifting Containers by TSHL of China dated August 3, 2020, to Min Jae Kwon.

And in the last count, Maviya is alleged to have between July 10, 2020 and August 24, 2020, in Lusaka with intent to defraud obtained K89,750 and US $3,500 cash from Min Jae Kwon by falsely pretending that he had Mukula logs and authority from ZAFFICO to sell when in fact not.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges before Lusaka Magistrate Tabitha Mulenga.

However, when the matter came up, Wednesday, for commencement of trial, State prosecutor Joe Phiri informed the Court that the State was ready to proceed with trial but that Maviya who is on police bond, was not present.

At this point, Maviya’s defence lawyer, Mehluli Malisa Batakathi of Muyatwa Legal Practitioners informed the Court that his client had communicated to him that he was unwell.

He, however, said one of Maviya’s sureties was before court to explain the accused’s whereabouts.

Once on the stand, Maviya’s surety, Jeremiah Mulenga, informed the Court that the accused was in self-isolation at his house in Chipata compound as he had tested positive for COVID-19.

He also presented to the court a copy of the accused person’s test results for COVID-19.

At this point, Phiri applied that the arresting officer Micheal Phiri be granted permission to verify the said medical report produced before court.

Magistrate Mulenga granted the application after the defence did not object to the application.

She also adjourned the matter to March 29, 2020, for verifying the results and setting of trial dates.