THREE people have appeared in the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court for allegedly forging the Lusaka City Council plans, works, development and real estate’s committee minutes.

The three are also alleged to have forged a survey diagram, an offer letter and a certificate of title.

In this matter, Tahir Choudry Mahmood, 47 of Lusaka’s Makeni/Kafue Road; Mikebby Sikangila, a 51-year-old businessman and Emmanuel Simasiku, also a businessman are facing 15 counts of forgery, uttering false documents, forcible detainer and false swearing.

In count one, it is alleged that between January 1 and 27, 2016, the three with intent to deceive forged a document namely Lusaka City Council minutes by falsely pretending that it was genuinely prepared and signed when in fact not.

In count two, it is alleged that on December 15, 2020, Mahmood, knowingly and fraudulently uttered Lusaka City Council minutes to a civil registry official at the High Court of Zambia.

In count three, it is alleged that Mahmood, Sikangila and Simasiku between January 1, 2016, and February 1, 2016, while acting together and with intent to defraud forged a document namely recommendation letter dated February 1, 2016, by falsely pretending that it was genuinely prepared and signed by Alex Mwansa, the Lusaka Town Clerk, when in fact not.

In count four, it alleged that Mahmood on September 19, 2019, knowingly and fraudulently uttered the recommendation dated February 1, 2016, to the civil registry official at the High Court.

In count five, Mahmood, Sikangila and Simasiku are alleged to have between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000, in Lusaka forged a survey diagram by falsely pretending that it was genuinely prepared and signed by a Mr Mwanalushi, a government surveyor when in fact not.

In count six, it is alleged that Mahmood on September 19, 2019, knowingly and fraudulently uttered the survey diagram to a Lusaka High Court registry official.

In count seven and eight, the three are alleged to have forged the Lusaka City Council plans, works, development and real estate committee minutes between March 1 and 31, 2016, and Mahmood is alleged to have uttered the document to the Lusaka City Council plans, works, development and real estate committee to the High Court Civil registry official on September 19, 2019.

In count nine and 10, the three allegedly forged an offer letter dated March 24, 2016, by falsely pretending that it was genuinely prepared by Ian Kayela and Mahmood later uttered it to a Lusaka High Court civil registry official.

In count 11 and 12, it is alleged that the three forged a certificate of title number 177540 by purporting to show that it was genuinely issued and signed by M Chisengele a registrar at lands and deeds registry when in fact not, and Mahmood allegedly uttered it to an official at the Lusaka High Court civil registry.

In count 13 and 14, Mahmood and Simasiku allegedly swore a false or make an affirmation or declaration before a High Court principal registry officer, a person authorised to administer oaths upon a matter of public concern under circumstances that a false swearing if committed in judicial proceedings would have amounted to perjury.

And in the last count, it is alleged that between April 15, 2016, and April 23, 2017, Mahmood had actual possession of land without claim of right and held possession of plot 14131/B and 37834 in a manner likely to cause the breach of the peace or reasonable apprehension of the breach of the peace against Liu Tiang Shu, a person entitled by law to have possession of the said land.

The three appeared before Lusaka Senior Resident Magistrate Nthandose Chabala, Monday morning, and are expected to take plea on February 26, this year.