By ETAMBUYU SANG’ANDU –

THE Kitwe High court yesterday heard how an accountant was attacked by robbers at Standard Chartered Bank in January this year who got away with K1, 377,590.

This is in a case in which Fred Kaonga, 35, Christopher Chansa, 34, Benson Mwansa, 24, Peter Kasongo, 42, and Jacob Mfula, 29, are charged with aggravated robbery after they allegedly entered into an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) room at Obote branch in Kitwe on January 12, this year.

Particulars of the offence are that the five accused persons while armed with offensive weapons allegedly stole K1, 377,590.00 cash the property of Standard Charted Bank and threatened to use violence on Matildah Zulu.

Kawina Muneku, an assistant accountant at Armor Security Company testified before Judge Chilombo Phiri that he was attacked by robbers while he was handing over the ATM keys to Kaonga.

Mr Muneku told the court that on January 12 this year, Kaonga who was reportedly unwell called him and asked for ATM keys because he wanted to work.

He told the court that later he met Kaonga at the bank so that he could handover the keys and the money to him.

The court heard that Mr Muneku met with Kaonga in the presence of a Ms Zulu who had also been asked to go to the bank to hand over the keys.

Mr Muneku testified that after entering the bank, a few minutes later they heard a bang outside the bank premises which was followed by a knock on the door.

He said it was at this point that Kaonga rushed to the door and opened it and three men entered the bank ordering everyone to go down.

Mr Muneku said the intruders ordered everyone to face the floor or else they would be killed.

Trials continues today.