The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has issued a bench warrant against a Pentecostal church pastor who is alleged to have swindled several people of Kabanana compound whilst pretending to be connected to President Edgar Lungu.

When the matter came up yesterday, magistrate Alice Walusiku said apostle Paul Mulenga of International Ministries and Affiliated Churches should be brought under warrant at the next sitting.

This is in a matter in which Apostle Mulenga and five others are facing 37 counts of theft amounting to over K9,000.

Apostle Mulenga has consistently been absent from court without reason and his sureties were also not in court; prompting the prosecutor to apply for the issuance of a bench warrant.

The court has told the five co-accused who attended court to assist police to apprehend Apostle Mulenga as judgment cannot be delivered in his absence.

The warrant is returnable on July 13 and possibly to deliver judgment.

Just before the August 11 elections, Apostle Mulenga and his accomplices are alleged to have swindled over 300 people whom they promised to recruit as polling agents and Referendum sensitizers.

Apostle Mulenga allegedly gave them an impression that he was connected to President Lungu.