By GRACE CHAILE
THE Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police have been dragged to the High Court by a Matero businesswoman, accusing seven police officers of illegally confiscating from her a total of K152, 700, during an operation.
Ms Phillis Sichinga, who operates under a business name “GOD IS ABLE GROCERY,” stated that not only did the officers from Chelstone police station ransack the shop but also consumed drinks.
Ms Sichinga stated that on November 17, 2023, armed officers comprising six males and one female visited her shop investigating a stolen Samsung phone.
The said phone was found in possession of the shopkeeper of Rwandan origin.
The litigant stated that after the officers ransacked the shop and entered inside the house without a search warrant and unaccompanied as the shopkeeper was restricted to the sitting room.
“The said police officers proceeded back to the shop where they misconducted themselves and consumed some drinks from the fridge, took with them two 20-litres of mineral water, three-door chiller fridge, D-Jack radio and a Kazang operating machine which had un-transacted money inside amounting to K7, 000 claiming that they were stolen items, when in fact not,” she said.
Ms Sichinga stated that the same officers also grabbed an undisclosed amount of money from the shopkeeper.
She alleged that after they had left, she discovered that K129, 700, which was kept in one of the rooms that was searched by the officers was missing.
It was discovered that K23, 500 which was kept in one of the boxes in the shop from the Kazang transactions was also missing.
She stated that she reported the matter to Matero Police Station but discovered that the officers where from Chelstone Police Station.
“At Chelstone Police Station, the plaintiff saw her fridge but was intimidated by the officers she found who told her that the items confiscated were stolen items and despite her showing them the receipts, they opted not to listen to her,” she said.
She has asked the High Court to order the return of K152, 700 and items confiscated by the said police officers who include Detective Sergeant Mwale and Detective Sergeant Musonda.
Ms Sichinga also demanded for damages for loss of business, mental anguish and stress suffered.
This article is supported with the WAN IFRA Women In News (WIN) Social Impact Reporting Initiative (SIRI) gender equality, diversity and inclusion (GEDI) Information in this article does not reflect the views of WAN IFRA Women In News.
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