‘Fake’ Congolese doc in court in Kapiri Mponshi

A 43-year-old Congolese man of Kapiri Mposhi district is appearing in court on charges of practicing medicine without lawful authority.

 

Appearing before Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate In-charge, Ackson Mumba, was Musa Ilunga of Matiliyo Compound in Kapiri Mposhi, who has been indicted on three counts.

 

In the first count, Dr Ilunga has been charged with being in possession of property believed to be stolen or unlawfully obtained contrary to Section 319 (a) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

 

Facts before the court were that on February 26, 2014 in Kapiri Mposhi, Dr Ilunga was found in possession of assorted medicines and medical appliances that included canulas, syringes, thermometers, Malaria RDT Tests and oral hydration solutions among other medical equipment believed to have been stolen.

 

In count two Dr Ilunga is facing a charge of unregistered medical practitioner contrary to Section 38 (a) (b) of the Medical and Allied Professionals Act Chapter 297 of the Laws of Zambia.

 

The accused, on unknown dates but between August 2011 and February 26, 2014 did pretend or practice or lead people to infer that he possessed a qualification as a Medical Practitioner and registered when in fact not.

 

In the third count the accused is charged with operating an unregistered Consulting Room contrary to the Medical and Allied Professionals Act Chapter 297 of the Laws of Zambia.

 

It was heard that Dr Illunga on unknown dates but between August 2011 and February 26, 2014 unlawfully did establish or conduct a Consulting Room at his residence without lawful authority.

 

Dr Ilunga entered a plea of not guilty on all the three counts prompting Magistrate Mumba to adjourn the case to June 20 for trial.

 

He applied for bail but the prosecution asked the court to decline the application stating that the accused was a foreign national who could easily flee the country.

 

But Dr Ilunga argued that he was of fixed aboard, had married a Zambian and had children with her adding that he cannot abandon his family.

 

Considering his application Magistrate Mumba granted Ilunga a K500 principal party bail and K3000 sum bail on each of his three sureties should he fail to honour the obligation of appearing before court when required.