FOUR former Copperbelt administration accounts officers yesterday pleaded not guilty in a Ndola magistrate's court to 21 charges of theft by public servant and three counts of money laundering.
The four are also facing more than 50 other counts of theft by public servant in another court.
Particulars of the offence are that the four, between March 2007 and July last year, stole over K400 million using 21 cheques, which came into their possession by virtue of their employment.
In the 22nd count, Hatombwe separately is alleged to have, between January 2007 and January this year, engaged in a business transaction involving K456,873,000 and disguised or concealed by buying a Toyota Chaser.
In the 23rd count, Musonda separately is charged with money laundering alleging that between January 2007 and January this year, he was involved in an illegal transaction of over K90 million by acquiring a Honda motor vehicle, registration number ACJ 4101.
In the last count, Liwena is charged with money laundering and is alleged to have acquired a Toyota Sprinter, registration number ABK 7382, from involvement in an illegal transaction worth over K400 million.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Defence counsel Tom Shamakamba applied for bail for two of his clients, Hatombwe and Musonda who have been in detention since Wednesday last week.
He said his clients had made an undertaking not to interfere with witnesses.
He urged the court to take note of the High Court ruling of Ken Kachali which stated that bail was a constitutional right.
Senior State advocate, Drug-Enforcement Commission, Keith Mweemba said he did not oppose the bail application but urged the court not to take note of the High Court ruling, as that did not apply in the current matter.
Ms Nalomba granted Hotombwe and Musonda cash bail of K7 million each and two Ndola-based sureties each in the same amount in their own recognisance.
The matter was adjourned to September 11 this year.
And former Ministry of Health human resources officer, Henry Kapoko has filed his second appeal in the High Court against the rejection of his bail application by the magistrate's court.
Magistrate Kenneth Mulife in his ruling denied Kapoko bail and granted the seven on condition that they each pay K500 million cash bail.
The six officials are Abel Katongo, 53, of PHI, Anthony Mwila, 36 (Woodlands), Royd Onde, 39 (Chelstone), Justine Phiri, 37 (Kabwata Site and Service), Nobert Peleti, 37 (Chilenje) and Zukas Musonda, 38, of Lilayi, while the seventh, Fred Chileshe, is Best Home Lodge operations manager of Olympia.
The six are facing one count of theft by public servant involving K1.9 billion from the Government.
Kapoko is jointly charged with Chileshe for theft of K1.9 billion, property of the Government between December 28, 2008, and February 28 this year.
In his affidavit in support of his appeal, Kapoko stated that he did not at any time attempt to flee the country but that he was at all times cooperating with investigative wings and that he was entitled to bail as he is a Zambian.
And in the affidavit by the seven in support of their appeal, they indicated that the bail amount imposed on them was too high and amounted to denying them bail.
Hearing for both applications comes up on July 30 this year before High Court Judge Essau Chulu.
