fake bank notes lands hair dresser in jail

From CHALI MULENGA in Livingstone

The Livingstone magistrate court has convicted and jailed a 30 year old hair dresser of Livingstone to four years imprisonment for being in possession of papers and implements of forgery.

Appearing on Monday before Livingstone magistrate Adsen Shanduba was Yonah Banda of unmarked house number in Dambwa north in Livingstone.

Mr Banda was facing two counts, firstly he was charged with being in possession of papers and implements of forgery contrary to section 351(a) (b) of chapter 87 of the penal code of the laws of Zambia.

In the second count, he is charged with attempted obtaining money by false pretenses contrary to section 309 of chapter 87 of the penal code of the laws of Zambia.

When the matter came up for judgment, Mr Shanduba said there was no doubt in his mind that Banda was aware of the activities of making fake bank notes.

 “It is clear from the evidence that you were involved in the crime from the onset and your defense cannot be admitted as it is just an afterthought,” he said.

In mitigation Banda told the court that he had learnt a lesson and promised not to engage illegal activities again.

“I have two children, I am the bread winner for my family and if am sent to prison my family will suffer, I am asking for leniency from this court,” he said.

In sentencing, Mr Shanduba said he had considered his mitigation and Banda only had himself to blame for the punishment from the court.

“I will send you to prison for four years in the first and in the second you will also be in prison for fours the two sentences will run concurrently. I know that you have been in prison for a long time, you stay was lawful so your four years starts now,” he said.

In the first count, it is alleged that on April 17 last year in Livingstone    Banda jointly and whilst acting together with others without lawful authority or excuse knowingly had in their custody or possession of three bunches of black stand white papers, two bottles of unknown chemical substance, one razor blade one roll light weight sliver foil, one roll of colourless plastic, two packs of cotton wool, one roll of cotton wool, two mouth and nose protector, two massing tapes, two pairs of gloves, one syringe, one bag, two packets of milk, one by 300 grams bottle of boom powder, one packet of  boom paste and thee by K20 noted rebased noted which were implements or devices peculiar to forging and making notes.

In the second, it is alleged that on April 17 last year in Livingstone, Banda jointly and whilst acting together with others attempted to obtained K20,00.00 from detective sergeant Kaonga and detective inspector  Sialwani by falsely pretending that the implements in their possession could reproduce any bank note. End