The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has found an Immigration Consultant and two Indian investors with a case to answer in a matter where the trio are facing five counts forgery and giving false information to a public officer, and has since placed them on their defence.

The three are expected to open their defense on January 10, next year.

In this matter, Roy Kunda, 41, an Immigration Consultant; Agarwal Kumar, 41 and Chawla Vineet, 41, both directors; are facing five counts forgery and giving false information to a public officer.

In the first count, it is alleged that on March 28, 2018, Kunda made a false written statement to the Immigration director general that Kumar and Vineet had in their account numbers held at Finance Bank Zambia and Barclays Bank Zambia, 0226028090 and 10011696 respectively, a US$250,000 financial capital to invest in Zambia, when in fact not.

In count two, it is alleged that on March 26, 2018, Kumar made a false written statement to the Immigration director general, purporting that he had US$250,000 financial capital in his account held at Barclays Bank which he wanted to invest in Zambia.

In count three, it is alleged that on March 26, 2018, Vineet made a false written statement to the Immigration director general, purporting that he had US$250,000 financial capital in his account held at Barclays Bank which he wanted to invest in Zambia.

In count four, it is alleged that between March 1 and 28, 2018, Kunda and Kumar forged bank statement number 1001696 from Barclays Bank Zambia.

And in count five, it is alleged that between March 1 and 28, 2018, Vineet forged bank statement number 0226028090100 from Finance Bank.

And when the matter came up, Thursday, magistrate Nsunge Chanda said with the evidence so far, she was satisfied that the prosecution had established a case against them.

She therefore put them on their defence.

The trio are expected to open their defence on January 10, next year.

Meanwhile, two men of Lusaka’s Kalundu area have been sentenced to five months imprisonment with hard labour for trafficking in marijuana without lawful authority.

In this matter, Emmanuel Simumbu, 25, businessman and Method Simangolwa, 24, a general worker, both of Kalundu, were facing three counts of trafficking in psychotropic substances.

It was alleged in count one that on December 12, this year, Simumbu and Simangolwa jointly and whilst acting together, did traffic in 301.6 grams of marijuana without lawful authority.

In the second count, it was alleged that that on the same day, Simumbu did traffic in 16.3 grams of marijuana without lawful authority.

And in count three, it was alleged that Simangolwa, on the same day, did traffic in 11.9 grams of marijuana without lawful authority.

And when the matter came up for plea before magistrate T Mulenga, the two pleaded guilty to the charge, saying they were smoking the drug at a market in Kalundu.

Brief facts of the matter are that on the material day, DEC officers received information that there were people with psychotropic substances in Kalundu area.

When they reached the area, they approached the accused at Kalundu market and searched them.

During their search, psychotropic substances namely, marijuana, where found on the accused persons.

They where apprehended thereafter and charged.

The accused admitted that the facts were correct.

In mitigation, Simumbu asked for leniency saying he will never smoke again.

Simangolwa equally asked for leniency saying he was married with one child and his wife was seven months pregnant.

He added that he left his family in a rented house and didn’t know how they were surviving because he didn’t pay rentals for this month.

However, magistrate Mulenga sentenced the duo to five months imprisonment to deter others from committing the same offence.

“I sentence both of you to three months imprisonment with hard labour in count one. In count two, I sentence A1 to two months imprisonment with hard labour. In count three, I sentence A2 to two months imprisonment with hard labour. These sentences are to run consecutively,” ruled magistrate Mulenga.