THE Ndola Magistrates’ Court has committed three men to the High Court for sentencing after they pleaded guilty to indecent assault on a female.

In this case Chrispin Mulefu, 20, a charcoal burner, Boston Chishiba, 28, and Daniel Mutetema, 20, were charged with two counts of indecent assault.

In count one, the trio were charged with indecent assault.

Particulars of the offence are that, the trio on February 7, 2021 in Ndola jointly and whilst acting together did indecently assault a female.

In count the, the trio on February 7, 2021 in Ndola jointly and whilst acting together did assault a female thereby causing her Occusioning Actual Bodily Harm.

Each admitted the charges and pleaded guilty.

Mulefu said he just touched her breast, adding that, “I don’t know what I was doing”.

Chishiba also admitted the charge and said he touched her on the anus, because he wanted to sleep with her and have sex.

Mutetema admitted the charge and said “I touched her breast, I wanted to sleep with her and have sex, she did not allow me”.

The trio also admitted causing her actual bodily harm.

“On February 7 around 18:00 hours, the complaint was on her way to the area called Nyembe village and met the three who were coming from the opposite direction. They asked her where she was going, as she tried to reply, they attacked her without any reason in the process she felt she was hit with an unknown objects in the head and feel down,” facts read in brief.

“Then jointly, they touched her on the breasts and the buttocks, she tried to resist, they continued to beat her, due to the continued beating, she failed to rescue herself. The three later ran away leaving her on the ground in pain. Later, she was asisted by a good samaritan after the accused ran away and took her to Kafulafuta police where she was issued with a medical report to go to the hospital. After medication at Ndola Teaching Hospital, the police started investigations. At the police, she identified the accused persons.”

Senior Resident Magistrate Peggy Banda found the three accused guilty after their own admission of the charges.

“On your own admission of the facts, I find the accused guilty as charged,” she said.

“Count one is beyond this court’s, jurisdiction, however, I can sentence you in count two but for the free flow of this case so that it does not appear like it has been closed, I will refer you to the High Court. I will refer the accused to the High Court for sentencing at the next High Court sessions. You will be in custody and when they are ready for you, you will be called,” said Magistrate Banda.