THE DPP has entered a nolle prosequi in a matter in which UPND deputy secretary general Patrick Mucheleka and three others were charged with aggravated robbery before the Kasama High court.

The four were detained at Milima Correctional facility since September 17, 2020.

And the Court granted the accused K10,000 cash bail each in their own recognizance in a matter in which they are charged with malicious damage.

This is a matter in which Patrick Muckeleka, Elias Mubanga, Samuel Ngwira and Chishimba Bwalya and an addition of Kelvin Bwalya, 28 of Chisenga Village who has been in police custody since his arrest in September, face one count of malicious damage to property of the Republic of Zambia worth K 83,097.

This was after the state amended the indictment on the second count to include a fifth person to a charge of malicious damage.

Facts before the court are that the five jointly and willfully damaged two type writers and a printer, property of GRZ valued at K83,097 in Kasama district of the Northern Province.

The accused have since pleaded not guilty to the charge.

And defense lawyer Mulambo Haimbe made an application for bail and asked for leniency but the state, who did not object to the application, implored the court to ensure that the accused persons do not jump bail and interfere with state witnesses or get involved in fights.

Haimbe, in thanking the State for raising no objection, however, said there was no need for the State to be seen to be determining bail conditions as it remained the reserve of the Court.

The accused have since been granted cash bail in the sum of K10, 000 in their own recognizance and two working sureties resident in Kasama.

Trial has since been set for October 26 and 27, 2020.

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, Mucheleka’s wife and mother and other party officials were at hand to witness the court proceedings.