By Agness Changala
The State has closed its case in a matter where a University of Zambia (UNZA) student is accused of stealing 16 computers from the institution.
And a police officer has testified that the accused told her that he had no intentions of stealing the computers but only wanted to use them for a project with an NGO.
In this case, Heniric Chisenga is charged with breaking into [pp-logged-users] a building and committing a felony therein contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on August 18, 2023, in Lusaka, Chisenga broke and entered the library and stole 16 computers with their accessories altogether valued at K68075.00, the property of UNZA.
Before magistrate Mutinta Mwenya, was detective sergeant Rosa Chulu of Zambia Air Force in Lusaka who concluded the State’s testimony as seventh and last witness in the case.
Magistrate Mwenya has since adjourned the case to January 7, 2024 for ruling on the case to answer.
Earlier, detective sergeant Rosa Chulu testified that on August 28, 2023, while on duty, Chelstone Police Station received a report from UNZA Great East Campus from the Agriculture Department that 16 computers had been stolen by known people.
Chulu told magistrate Mwenya that it was also reported that the person who had entered the computer laboratory did not break in physically.
She said when the same room was opened by the head of department, Tizya Kumwenda, it was discovered that everything was intact, doors, windows and the roof while all computers were missing.
“Immediately, we booked UNZA and we were directed to the Agriculture department in the same laboratory. I was in the company of two other officers. At the scene, we only found empty desks of computer tables adjacent to the wall. All 16 computers were missing. Even computer accessories were stolen,” Chulu explained. “We physically checked the room but there was no sign of break-in.”
Chulu said she asked how many keys they had to access the door to the room and she was told they had three but two keys were available while one was missing.
She said she was told that every student accessed the room as long as they logged in a book and would be given the key to the room.
“Once the key is given to the student, the key should be returned to the secretary or the head of department. I asked them to check in the login book and it was discovered that Heniric did not return the key. We tried to contact Heniric but his phone was off,” she said.
Chulu said around 20:00 the same day, she was alerted that Chisenga had been found and that she should rush to UNZA.
She said she later phoned police officers stationed at UNZA and asked them to apprehend the suspect and take him to Chelstone Police.
“The suspect was apprehended and taken to Chelstone Police Station and when queried, he expressed ignorance. At the end of the interrogation, he told us that he was aware of where the computers were. He claimed he never stole the computers but that he has a project with an NGO and needed to use the computers,” she said.
She said she asked why he never alerted the school, Chisenga claimed he was a well-known person and always in the room where the computers were stolen.
Chulu said it was later established that he was no longer a student at UNZA, saying this was after he was asked to produce an I.D.
She said it was discovered that he was a former student under Agriculture.
The officer further said the suspect then led the police to the vet hostel in a common room where he had covered computers on a bunker bed.
She said four students found in the common room said they knew the suspect but were not sure which school he was registered under.
“We recovered a total of 15 computers. He maintained that he got the computers because he had a project with an NGO. The suspect was later warned, cautioned and charged. He said that he never wanted to take the computers for good but wanted to use them for a project,” Chulu said.
She said UNZA later requested for temporary release of the computers so that students can use them, a request the court granted.
After hearing the evidence of the last State’s witness, magistrate Mwenya adjourned the case to January 12, 2024 for ruling on the case to answer while the accused is still remanded in custody.[/pp-logged-users]
