PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu’s former Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda has narrated to the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court how an unknown person allegedly forged the Head of State’s signature and a letter purported to have been written by him.

He was testifying in a matter where Richard Mutale, 43, of Makeni, is facing 11 counts of forgery, uttering false documents and obtaining money by false pretences.

It is alleged that in March, last year, Mutale forged President Lungu’s signature.

It is also alleged that on March 14, last year, Mutale allegedly forged a land allocation letter in Petauke District addressed to the acting District Commissioner, purporting to show that it was genuinely written and signed by President Lungu when in fact not.

It is further alleged that on March 13, last year, Mutale forged Chanda’s signature purporting that he had written and signed a letter to managing director at Truck and Trailer Sales Limited company based in the UK.

The alleged forged letter was a business appointment between the company and President Lungu.

When the matter came up for continued trial before Chief Resident Magistrate Lameck Mwale, Wednesday, Chanda testified that on March 19, last year, he was approached by police, who wanted to authenticate certain documents which were purported to have been signed by him.

He added that other documents were purported to have been signed by the President.

“The documents included a letter purportedly written by President Lungu and addressed to a District Commissioner in Petauke. There was another letter purported to have been written by me addressed to a trucking company based in the UK confirming an appointment between it and State House. There was also a purported government general receipt as payment for processing of the appointment for that investor,” Chanda said.

He said when he examined the documents, he noticed that they were all not genuine.

Chanda explained that the emblem of an eagle on the letter purportedly written by the President was computer-generated and that the signature on it was fake.

“The signature on the left side saying, ‘EC Lungu President’ is false and never on the left side, it is supposed to be in the middle and his first or last name is supposed to be in full,” he told the Court.

Chanda further testified that President Lungu would not have written the letter as he did not deal in land matters, but the Commissioner of Lands dealt with that on his behalf.

He disclosed that the letter purported to have been written by him was also forged and had several anomalies.

Chanda explained that there was never any charge for presidential appointments, adding that there was no Presidential Affairs Ministry indicated on the stamp.

“We only have the Presidential Affairs Minister and we do not transact anything at State House. Appointments are free,” said Chanda.

Trial continues on June 29, this year.