THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has entered a nolle prosequi in a matter where an MTN employee and another were charged with attempted arson.

The matter has since been discontinued.

In this matter, Kamanyanga Kaseele, an accountant of Woodlands and Chipasha Kamukwamba, a businessman of Lake Road Ibex Hill, were charged with attempted arson but pleaded not guilty.

It was alleged that between February 12, 2020 and February 13, 2020 in Lusaka, the two jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, willfully and unlawfully attempted to set on fire a building namely MTN head office.

The incident happened during the time the country was facing gassing incidents.

However, when the matter came up before Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale for continued trial, Monday, the prosecution team informed the court that the DPP had entered a nolle prosequi in the matter.

Magistrate Mwale then informed the accused that in light of the nolle prosequi received from the DPP, proceedings against them were discontinued and that the said accused persons were accordingly discharged.

In March this year, a Security guard had testified how he found a container and some liquid which looked like petrol on the finance floor of the MTN building in the early hours of February 13, this year.

Charles Ngwezhe of Garden Township said on February 12, 2020 around 17:42 hours, he reported for work at MTN and while on duty at the reception, saw two MTN workers from the last floor of the building.

He said the two asked him if he could smell anything like gas or fuel and he replied in the affirmative.

The witness said he then went to the finance floor and found a container and plastic bags that contained substance that smelt like fuel.

“They told me that the smell is stronger in the elevator. I asked them to escort me to go and check together. We went to the Meza first floor which was alright. There was no smell. When we reached the floor housing the finance department, I saw a container and some liquid which looked like petrol in a corridor leading to the exit door,” Ngwezhe said.

“I saw a five liter container and plastic bags near the exit door. We went nearby and found something which looked like petrol. Two black carrier bags had some two small tied plastics with yellow staff which looked like liquid fuel.”

Ngwezhe said he returned to the reception and started contacting people in the maintenance office if they were aware of the items he found at the finance department.

He said later that morning, he reported the matter to his supervisors and the matter was then reported to police.