Thu, 02 Nov 2017 11:03:04 +0000
By Justina Mulenga
A 42-year-old Chinese national yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts of forgery of trade mark and being in possession of counterfeit goods.
It is alleged that, Tang Weihua 42, was on September 25 2017 found in possession of 2,572 pairs of fake BATA branded shoes.
In the first count, it is alleged that Tang Weihua on November 25 2017, in Lusaka, with intent to deceive, had in possession 2,572 pairs of shoes bearing a mark so nearly resembling Bata Shoe company trade mark.
And in the second count, it is alleged that Tang Weihua on November 25 2017, in Lusaka, with intent to deceive, did sale shoes bearing a mark so nearly resembling the Bata Shoe Company trade mark.
When the matter came up for plea before Lusaka magistrate David Simusamba Mr Weihua admitted the offence and agreed to having had the said shoes for sale. Magistrate Simusamba has set November 6 2017 for hearing of facts and sentencing.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Magistrates’ Court yesterday found a 26 –year-old woman with case to answer in the case of child stealing.
Four witnesses in this matter testified against the accused person saying she was allegedly found with the said missing baby boy.
It was alleged that Monica Mutale 26, did steal a five month old baby and deprived him from lawful custody of his mother, Lydia Mutale.
When the matter came up yesterday before Magistrate Felix Kaoma, the first witness, Lydia Mutale 24, of Kanyama compound and mother of the stolen baby told the court that she had identified the woman who got her child when she was taken to the police for identification.
She said at the time she was selling chips and sausage by a tavern in Kanyama, a lady came and bought chips and later sausage.
She said after the child fell asleep, the lady asked for a chitenge to put him on her back as she was busy selling chips and sausage.
She later entered the tavern with the baby and from that time the woman and the baby were nowhere to be seen.
The second witness, Grace Chisanga 47, a businesswoman of Kanyama Compound also testified that she was there when the accused, Monica Mutale who she identified in court took the baby.
The third witness, the father of the baby, Lewis Zimba Mukombola, a merchandiser at Superior Milling Limited said he had identified the child to be his after he was recovered from Kanyama Level 1 Hospital.
Lewis said after going to the police to report the matter, he posted pics of his missing child on Facebook alerting people of what had happened.
And the fourth witness, Constable Prisca Mulenga 38, told the court that she had arrested the suspect who was found with the said missing child.
And the accused person denied getting the child from his mother but from a fellow child who was between 7 to 8 years of age.
Magistrate Kaoma adjourned the matter to November 3 2017 for judgment.
