Maravi

Witness identifies suspects in stolen copper case

Witness identifies suspects in stolen copper case
Written by Mwila Chansa in Chambishi
Thursday, April 02, 2009 3:20:50 PM

AN employee of Central Recyclist Limited of Kitwe on Tuesday identified two men that allegedly approached him that they had copper for sale.

And a stores manager from Chambishi Metals Plc, Evans Katebe, confirmed to the court that the sheets of copper detained in a warehouse at Chambishi police station belonged to Chambishi Metals Plc.

This is in a matter in which a Chambishi businessman, Sydney Chabasaga, and five others are accused of stealing copper, contrary to section 275 (a) of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that the accused persons on a date unknown but between February 27, 2009 and March 1, 2009 in Chambishi, did steal 3.055 tonnes of copper valued at K93, 939, 300, the property of Chambishi Metals Plc.

Testifying before magistrate Davy Simfukwe, Mbita Sitanzi, a buyer from Central Recyclist, pointed at Chabasanga who is the first accused and Chiluba Kabengele, the fifth accused as the people that approached him that they had copper for sale.

He testified that when he reported for work on February 28, two men approached him that they had copper weighing three tonnes from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and that they wanted to sell it.

Sitanzi told the court that after consulting his supervisor who agreed to the transaction, he told the two men to go and bring the copper.

He testified that a few minutes later, the men brought the copper that was placed in a white Canter registration number AAZ 6320, which was offloaded.

Sitanzi who testified that the two men gave him K30, 350,000 cash for the transaction, also confirmed to the court that the Canter parked at Chambishi police station was the one that the two men used in delivering the copper in question.

And Katebe said he would identify the copper from Chambishi because of its identity features such as the serial, bundle and consignment numbers.

He told the court how a mine police officer on March 1, went to his office to inform him that he suspected that copper at the stores yard had been tampered with in view of the little pieces of copper that he had seen on the ground in a place where the commodity was not supposed to be found.

Katebe said upon counterchecking, it was found that one bundle was missing because there were only 16 instead of 17.

Asked how much the copper in question would be sold, Katebe said it would go for about K93 million.

Katebe was then led by the state prosecutor to Chambishi police station where he identified the copper lying in the warehouse as its identity features corresponded with what was on his records.

Trial continues.

Labels: COPPER, COURTS

posted by MrK @ 2:21 PM