A 32-year-old man of Ndola’s Lubuto West identified as Mwamba Kafula, who was allegedly duping women into sending nude videos of themselves under the pretext that a ‘Mr Smith’ would pay them K100,000, has pleaded not guilty to prohibition of pornography in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court.

And Mwamba, a lab technician at Zambezi Portland, has been granted K5,000 bail in his own recognizance with two working sureties in the like sum.

Particulars of the offence are that Mwamba on unknown dates, but between August 1 and September 4, 2018, had in his possession, a Techno phone with pornographic pictures.

And when the matter came up for plea before Magistrate Felix Kaoma, Monday, the accused denied the charge.

He was then granted bail of K5,000 in his own recognizance with two working sureties in the like sum after making an application.

The matter has been adjourned to October 23 for trial.

Mwamba was arrested last week by the police in Ndola for allegedly duping women into sending nude videos of themselves under the pretext that a ‘Mr Smith’ would pay them K100,000.

After receiving the videos, the said man is alleged to have blackmailed the authors with the view of syphoning money out of them.

This was according to a statement issued by police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo last week.

“Following the trending of nude videos on social media involving men and women in the recent past, police instituted investigations and have managed to arrest one suspect identified as Mwamba Kafula, aged 32, of Lubuto West in Ndola, who is also a laboratory technician at Zambezi Portland, and has been charged with circulation of pornography contrary to section 102 of the Electronic Communication and Technology Act number 21 of 2009,” Katongo revealed.

“The suspect is alleged to have been purporting to be a link to a Mr Smith and was asking people, through Facebook and Twitter, to send nude videos on pretext that he would send them to a Mr Smith who could later send them K100,000. After receiving the videos, the suspect is alleged to have been blackmailing those who sent videos asking for money from them or have the videos published. The suspect is detained in police custody and will appear in court soon.”

Meanwhile, pastor John Simfukwe of Interdenominational Jesus Ministry has pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft by servant where he’s alleged to have swindled his congregant, a widow, out of thousands of kwacha.

In this matter, it is alleged that the accused between August 16, 2016, and August 17, 2018, stole K260,000 cash, which was entrusted to him by Mildred Chikato to buy a house on her behalf.

When Pastor Simfukwe appeared before Lusaka Magistrate Felix Kaoma, Monday, he said he understood the charge, but denied the allegations.

The accused, who has been in custody since September 14, 2018, has also been granted bail after he applied for it.

Magistrate Kaoma granted him K50,000 bail in his own recognizance with two working sureties in the like sum.