TWO Lusaka residents have been dragged to court for allegedly obtaining money by false pretences and injecting an unsuspecting citizen with a fake COVID-19 vaccine.
In this matter, Maybin Mwansa, 31, a businessman of Mtendere township and Yotam Shikupa, 42, a janitor, of Garden house are jointly charged with one count of personating public officers and one count of obtaining money by false pretences.
In the first count, allegations are that the accused on July 5, 2021 in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together, falsely represented themselves to be persons employed in the public service namely Ministry of Health as medical personnel respectively, and did administer a fake COVID-19 vaccine to Sipho Phiri by virtue of such employment.
In the second count, the accused are charged with obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 309 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence allege that the duo on the said date, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together and with intent to deceive or defraud, obtained K2,650 by falsely pretending that they will inject Phiri with COVID-19 vaccine when in fact not.
When the matter came up before magistrate Jennifer Bwalya for plea, Wednesday, the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The matter has since been adjourned to August 30, 2021 for commencement of trial.
