A 57-year-old American farmer and a 44-year-old man have been dragged to court for allegedly swindling a public servant out of K36,300 by falsely pretending that they had Moringa for sell.

In this matter, Harris Charles and Tobias Kabani are facing one count of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 309 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but between November 9, 2017 and January 2, 2018, the duo jointly and whilst acting together and with intent deceive or defraud, obtained K36,300 from Charles Njobvu by falsely pretending that they were sellers and cultivators of Moringa, when in fact not.

The matter has been allocated to Lusaka magistrate Martha Miti and the accused are expected to take plea soon.

Allegations in the matter are that on April 19, 2017, the complainant, Njobvu was introduced to a director of a company called Yahat Grain Limited by his wife’s close friend only identified as a Ms Peggy.

Peggy allegedly told him that there was a black American who was in Zambia and that he wanted to do a project involving Moringa and that it was a good business dealing in Moringa seeds.

Njobvu met the business man together with Peggy who was with an assistant.

They met Harris who explained how long it would take for the first harvest of Moringa and further explained that first harvest would take three months to be ready for sale.

When the harvest was done, he was not given the Moringa.