TRIAL in a case where Inktec managing director Mathew
Mohan and two brothers are charged with the murder of Cyclone Hardware director
Sajid Itowala has been set for February 18 and 19 in the Lusaka High
Court.
The last time the matter came up for continued trial, Lusaka High
Court judge Gregory Phiri advised journalists to be factual in their reporting
on court proceedings.
Judge Phiri, who said he did not bother much about
media reports, urged journalists to consult court records whenever in
doubt.
He said his policy was to leave the media alone and concentrate on
what happens in court.
His comments followed a complaint by one of the
defence lawyers Bonaventure Mutale that a news item on Zambia
National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television misrepresented
facts.
In this matter, Mohan, Shabia Patel and Idris Patel are charged
with the murder of Itowala contrary to Section 200 of the Penal Code CAP 87 of
the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence allege that the trio on
July 21, 2009 murdered
Itowala.
During continued trial, a security guard from Armcor
Security last week told the court that he and another person were bribed K20,000
to keep quiet about what they saw the day Itowala was abducted from house number
one Ngulube Road in Lusaka’s Woodlands residential area.
Michael Silungwe
of Zingalume compound testified that he was on duty at House number 2320/3 on
Manenekela Road which is next to number one, Ngulube Road
Woodlands.
Silungwe further told the court that he was on August 12,
2009, summoned at central Police where about 12 Indian men were paraded and he
identified Mohan as one of the men who were present when Sajid was being tied
up.
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