BY JACKSON MAPAPAYI and ROGERS KALERO
POLICE in Solwezi have arrested and charged two APG milling company workers for aggravated robbery at the company.
North western province deputy commissioner of police Dr Fred Mulenga confirmed the development which happened on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, armed robbers in the early hours of New Year attacked Kitwe businessman, Irvin Chilufya and his family robbing him of a motor vehicle Nissan Navara registration KCM 33, three firearms, five phones, a laptop and a First National Bank (FNB) ATM card.
Mr Chilufya, 54, of Kamfinsa farm area in Kitwe was allegedly attacked by the criminals together with his two daughters at his house after coming back from New Year’s countdown with his family.
Copperbelt Deputy Police Commissioner Tresphord Kasake confirmed the incident and said it was believed that the criminals armed with firearms and pangas had set a trap for Mr Chilufya the time he had left home for the countdown.
“I can confirm that we had an incident of robbery where Mr Chilufya aged 54 and his family , was robbed at his house after coming from a New Year count down. It is believed that the criminals armed with firearms and pangas had set a trap for Mr Chilufya.
“The victim was attacked and robbed of a motor vehicle Nissan Navara registration KCM 33, three firearms, five phones, a laptop and an FNB ATM card,’’ Mr Kasale said
Mr Kasale said on New Year’s even, Mr Chilufya left his farm on Friday driving a Toyota Lexus, registration BAE 544 for Garden Court with his children for a New Year’s count down fireworks display.
“Around midnight, Mr Chilufya together with his children later left for home after the fireworks display. When they arrived home, Mr Chilufya’s son noticed some strange people around and alerted his father when he was about to come out of the vehicle,’’ he said
Mr Kasale said it was at this point that the criminals advanced towards them and ordered him and his son to lay down before they were dragged into the house where they had broken into earlier and tied the two security guards who were on duty.
Mr Kasale said the criminals threatened to kill Mr Chilufya if he failed to give them money, forcing him to give them his ATM card with his pin number.
Mr Kasale said the children were dragged out of the vehicle before being beaten and confiscating their phones.
He said the criminals used force on Mr Chilufya who sustained multiple cuts on the head, hands and face together with his children and security guards
Mr Kasale said police officers rushed to the scene and confirmed the aggravated robbery case.
He said all the victims were rushed to Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH) for treatment and are in a stable condition, while the stolen vehicle was found abandoned in Ndola’s Mushili area.
And in the Solwezi incident, Dr Mulenga said the two, whose names have been withheld include, a manager and an accountant, broke into the company premises and went away with about K109, 000 cash, security guns as well as a motor vehicle.
“And after investigations, it was discovered that the manager of the company had the keys to the safe where the K109,000 cash was kept,” said Dr Mulenga.
The cash was found at the manager’s house, police said.
He stated that Police have since arrested both the Manager and Accountant of the Milling Company to assist with investigations adding that police also recovered the stolen motor vehicle.
And police in Solwezi have recovered assorted electrical appliances that were stolen from different shops and houses in the district.
Dr Mulenga said the recovery follows the vigorous investigations in district which was due to numerous cases of break- ins.
He said among the recovered items were television sets, Music Systems, Fridges, Laptops and computers among others.
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