A 24-year-old student of Matero township has been dragged to court for allegedly swindling eight people out of over K24,000 by falsely pretending that he had rooms for rent.

In this matter, Shams Phiri is charged with eight counts of obtaining money by false pretences.

It is alleged in the first count that Phiri, on December 31, 2018 in Lusaka, with intent to defraud, obtained K1,000 from Faith Kasema by falsely pretending that he had a room for rent when in fact not.

In the second count, it is alleged that Phiri on January 1, 2019 in Lusaka, with intent to defraud obtained K1,700 from Moonga Hamangaba.

In count three, Phiri is alleged to have on January 23, 2019 in Lusaka with intent to defraud obtained K1,000 from Namwezi Nalutomgwe by falsely pretending that he had a room for rent when in fact not.

In count four, it is alleged that Phiri between March 1 and March 31, 2019 in Lusaka with intent to defraud, obtained K3,100 from Prisca Chilundika by falsely pretending that he had a room for rent when in fact not.

In count five, it is further alleged that Phiri between December 2 and December 31, 2018 in Lusaka obtained K12,100 from Augustine Songa while in the sixth count on August 4, 2019 Phiri swindled Luyunda Hasonga out of his K1,000 by pretending that he had a room for rent when in fact not.

In count seven, it is alleged that on April 4, 2019, Phiri swindled Chiyuya out of K2,500 by pretending that he had a room for rent when in fact not.

And in count eight, it is alleged that on March 8, 2019 Phiri swindled Nickson Chitala out of K1,700 by falsely pretending that he had a room for rent when in fact not.

The matter has been allocated to magistrate T Mulenga and Phiri, who is on police bond, is expected to take plea soon.