Court Jails Lusaka Apostle For Swindling Kabanana Residents

A LUSAKA pastor who swindled several residents of Kabanana compound of their money has been convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment with hard labour.

Lusaka resident magistrate Alice Walusiku delivered judgment in Apostle Paul Mulenga’s absentia as he was still on the run. Mulenga and five others were charged with 39 counts of theft of money amounting to K9,000 but they pleaded not guilty.

The other four accused were acquitted.

And as the matter unfolded, Mulenga of International Ministries and Affiliated Churches stopped attending court proceedings and the court issued a bench warrant after establishing that the accused was at large.

And in her findings, magistrate Walusiku said the accused did not steal but that he obtained the said money by way of false pretenses, which offence was lesser than theft.

She said she did not have difficulties connecting Mulenga to the offences. Magistrate Walusiku said the accused and his organisation had no capacity to give out loans.

“I find that the accused had no claim of right to the said. A1 is guilty and I convict him accordingly,” magistrate Walusiku said.

In sentencing Mulenga who was not in court, magistrate Walusiku invoked section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Code.