Journalist narrates how he stumbled on thieves that broke into Muvi Television

A Muvi Television reporter has narrated to the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court how he managed to locate the hiding place of the suspects in break-in that took place at the media house last year.

Goodson Banda was testifying in a matter in Kabamba Mwape, 25, Kelvin Kambila, 24 and Shownslous Mwanza are facing one count of breaking into a building with intent to commit a felony.

It is alleged that between December 16 and 17, 2022, Mwape, Kambila and Mwanza, jointly and whilst acting together, with intent to steal, broke and entered into Muvi television building and stole 5×22-inch Concord Television sets.

They also stole three Apple Mac computers, one HP desktop computer, one CPU monitor, a keyboard and one point of sale machine, altogether valued at K111,650, the property of Muvi television.

When the matter came up for continuation of trial before magistrate Trevor Kasanda on Friday, Banda told the court that on December 17, 2023, he reported for work and was informed by his colleague that there was a break in at his work place.

He said that later that evening after signing off, he met a man who had a TV which looked exactly like the one which was stolen from his workplace.

“On December 17, 2022 around 05hrs I reported for work to cast the morning news that starts at 06 hours. When I entered the office, I found the TV at the reception was missing. I wondered but did not do anything because I was rushing to the studio to cast news since I was a late.

“I went to the studio and started casting the news around 06 hours. The news ended somewhere around 06:45 hours and when I was done, my colleague who works from the transmission Mr Andrew who was on duty that day told me that there was a theft at the company,” he said.

He told the court that some television sets were missing that’s how he realized why the TV at the reception was off. He left the news desk and rushed to the reception to check what was going on.

Also read: Police nab 5 suspects over alleged theft of Muvi TV equipments

“On the very day in the evening after I had signed off around 18 hours, I left my home and went to look for something to have for supper at the market. On my way, I met some man who was carrying a TV, who by passed me and I took keen interest in looking at the TV because it looked similar to the one which had been stolen from my work place. I then approached him and told him I wanted a TV to buy.

“He then told me that he was not selling because he is from buying as well. In the interest of wanting to know where he got it from, I asked the guy to call the one who sold him if he has another TV. After asking, he was told that there are other TVs, that’s when I asked the guy to come with me at the at my work place. I went with the guy who had a TV to Muvi TV,” he said.

Banda narrated that after noticing the similarities, he then pretended as though he was looking for a TV to buy the act that prompted the man to take him to the place where they found the stolen items.

“I then asked the guard to close the gate upon entering. That’s how we went to our head of current affairs Mr innocent Phiri and explained to him what happened. We then got the guy and took him to the office and asked him not to alarm the situation and not notify the one who sold him the TV. That’s how we called the police that we have a suspect and when the police arrived, that’s how we were taken to where he bought the TV from.

“When we reached in N’gombe, we found a guy at a certain house whom we told that we really wanted to buy the TV because we wanted to watch the world cup finals and then we entered and after searching, we found the two TVs in the house,” he said.

He further narrated that the seller refused that he is not the owner of the televisions but rather said that someone brought the televisions to him for selling.

“My work place has one entrance which is the gate and we only have one entrance into the office which is through the reception whose door is never locked. Once you enter through the reception, you are able to access other offices without difficulties,” said Banda.

The matter comes up on May 9, 2023 for continued trial.

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