By Nation Reporter
A LUSAKA businessman has denied impersonating a Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officer in the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court.
Moses Tembo, 40, of Barlastone denied the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Brian Simachela.
Tembo is charged with one count of impersonation contrary to section 378 Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Tembo has been granted K3, 000 cash bail with two working sureties.
It is alleged that Tembo on April 5 this year in the company of another person approached Mary Chungu, the director of Thorn Hill Boarding and Day School in Chelstone and presented himself and the other person as officers from ZRA who were following up on a tax liability of K236, 250 inclusive of penalties owed by the school.
Ms Chungu called her two accountants Mr Godfrey Bwalya and Mr Musyani Sichilima.
It is further alleged that Tembo told Ms Chungu that if the school agreed to pay K50, 000, the tax arrears would be deleted from the system.
The three school officials told Tembo and his accomplice that they had resolved as a school to enter into a time payment agreement with the ZRA as they always do when they were faced with difficulties in paying tax.
Tembo informed the three school officials that their case had reached a stage where ZRA together with the Sherrif of Zambia’s office would pounce on the school and levy the property within 14 days.
Ms Chungu told Tembo and his friend to check on them on April 13 as they had no money at the time. Ms Chungu went to ZRA to verify the demand notice and was told that ZRA had not sent officers to the school to follow up the tax liability. ZRA officers arranged with Ms Chungu to entice Tembo to come to the school.
The following day Tembo went to the school to meet Ms Chungu who asked him to go and collect the money. ZRA officers arrived at the school and Ms Chungu introduced Tembo as the man who presented himself as an officer from ZRA.
Tembo was arrested and taken to Emmasdale police station where he was charged with impersonation. He is expected to open his defence on May 10.
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