Four people, among them a Social Welfare juveniles inspector and a director at House of Moses Orphanage, have appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for allegedly kidnapping a three month-old baby and transporting the child outside Zambia.

The four have, however, denied the charges.

In this matter, Musenge Mumba, a 39-year-old juveniles officer, Lawrence Mulenga, a 36-year-old businessman, Gertrude Sichone, a 38-year-old business lady of Chainda Avondale and Daisy Musukutwa, a 34-year-old director at House of Moses Orphanage, are charged with three counts of giving false information to a public officer, kidnapping and destroying evidence.

Particulars of the offence in the first count allege that on April 13, 2017, Musenge gave false information to a judicial officer at Magistrates’ Court Complex by filing a petition for adoption of a three-month-old baby, that the same child was dumped and the mother was not known, thereby causing the judicial officer to issue adoption order and certificate of agency, knowing the same information to be false.

In count two, it is alleged that between January 1, 2017 and July 31, 2017 in Lusaka, the four, whilst acting together, conveyed the three month-old child beyond the limits of Zambia without the consent of Mungoti O’Brien Mateyo, the person legally authorized to consent on behalf of the child.

And in the last count, it is alleged that between January 1, 2017 and July 31, 2017 in Lusaka, the four, knowing that the Nurse handover book may be required in evidence in a judicial proceeding, willfully removed or destroyed it with intent to prevent it from being used in court.

When the matter came up for plea before chief resident magistrate Lameck Mwale, Wednesday, the accused persons denied the charges.

The matter has been adjourned to October 7, 2019 for commencement of trial.