A 65-year-old British man has appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for allegedly beating up his 36-year-old cleaner girlfriend on accusations that she stole his household properties while he was away in the United Kingdom after having issues with the Immigration Department.

In this matter, Collins Roberts of Woodlands is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Particulars of the offence allege that on November 27, last year, Roberts assaulted Faith Mwamba and occasioned her actual bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty.

And when the matter came up for trial before Principal Resident Magistrate Mwaka Mikalile, Thursday, Charity Namakosa, who is Roberts’ landlord, narrated how she witnessed the accused assault Mwamba at Woodlands Police Station after the witness was summoned in connection with allegations that she stole Roberts’ properties.

Namakosa had earlier explained to the Court how she came to know Mwamba through Roberts.

She testified that Roberts was her tenant in Woodlands South, adding that when he had issues with the Immigration Department who gave him 24 hours to leave the country, he asked her to allow Mwamba to stay in the house while he was away.

Namakosa said she reluctantly allowed Mwamba to start living in the house she was renting to Roberts on condition that she took care of the environment.

“Roberts left his household goods and some company properties at the Woodlands house,” Namakosa narrated.

She told the Court that while Roberts was away in the UK, he phoned her and asked her to evict Mwamba from the house, saying she risked damaging the property.

She added that she went to the house, but did not find Mwamba, so they broke the door.

“It was agreed that Faith gets the property which Roberts left in the house,” Namakosa said.

She, however, said when Roberts returned from the UK, he accused her and Mwamba of stealing his household goods.

Namakosa added that she was later on summoned at Woodlands Police on allegations that she stole the accused’s properties.

She said at the police station, she met Roberts and Mwamba but added that Roberts became vulgar towards her and the officers.

Namakosa said Roberts later pulled Mwamba by the hand, held her by the neck and let go of her as she hit her head to the wall due to the impact.

She added that Mwamba, who was crying, sustained injuries and that Roberts was later arrested.

Namakosa said she wondered how Roberts could assault Mwamba in the presence of police officers.

When Roberts asked Namakosa in cross-examination whether it was true that she and Mwamba conspired to steal his property thinking he had been deported, the witness responded in the negative, adding that Mwamba wasn’t even her friend.

Trial continues on September 30, this year.