United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) president Charles Chanda and his 24-year-old daughter Esther Chanda have continued to take plea in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court in a matter where they are charged with 134 counts of obtaining money by false pretences.
The two have pleaded not guilty to 80 counts out of the 134 so far and will on November 5, this year, take plea in the remaining counts.
In this matter, it is alleged that on dates unknown but between January 1, 2018 and August 31, 2019 in Lusaka, the two whilst acting together with other persons unknown did by false pretence obtain K3,922,997 from the complainants on the pretex that they were selling subdivisions on Charliesdale when in fact not.
They had previously taken plea in 20 counts out of the 134 and denied the charges.
And when the matter came up before magistrate Alice Walusiku, Monday, private prosecutor Kennedy Mambwe explained to the court that the matter was initially scheduled for hearing on the status of Chanda’s detention but since he and his daughter were before court, they would proceed with plea.
When magistrate Walusiku read the charges from count 21 to count 80, Chanda and Esther pleaded not guilty.
However, counts 51 and 66 of the charges had no details recorded on magistrate Walusiku’s charge sheet.
The matter comes up on November 5, 2019 for continuation of plea in the remaining counts.
Chanda and his company have also been sued by 120 people in the Lusaka High Court, for allegedly offering them sale of land fraudulently, with the purpose of swindling members of the public.