A businessman Shah Jayendra Kumar Chihanganlal appeared in court firmly denying allegations of fraud and criminal trespass linked to his purchase of a plot of land in Livingstone.
This is in a case where Israel Mushoke, Shah Jayendra Kumar
Chihanganlal, and Lata Jehendra Shah all of Livingstone.
They face charges of making false statements and entering
private property without permission.
Israel Mushoke, 54, and Shah Jayendra Kumar Chihanganlal,
65, are accused of misleading a government officer, George Susiku Sindila, into
signing a document related to land in Livingstone between January and June
2022. They also face charges of trespassing on private property with intent to
commit an offense.
Lata Jehendra Shah, a 60-year-old businesswoman, is also
implicated in these activities.
The defendants are represented by lawyers from Swizt Mweemba
and Associates.
Chihanganlal contends before Livingstone magistrate Kahoyi Mushabati
that he recounted how he first learned about the land deal.
“In March 2022, Ian approached me with information about a
piece of land for sale along Sichango Road, next to Batoka Sky Limited,” he
said.
After consulting with
his family, Chihanganlal decided to proceed with the purchase in his son's
name.
He then met with Ian and Mushoke, the seller, who showed him
the property and presented documents, including the land’s certificate of title
and survey diagram.
“Mushoke showed me the boundaries, and I confirmed the
location,” Chihanganlal said, adding that the land appeared free of any prior encumbrances.
Chihanganlal finalised the deal after negotiating a price of
1.2 million kwacha.
“I reviewed the documents and found everything in order,” he
noted.
With his right hand
fractured at the time, he asked his wife to sign the sale contract on their
son’s behalf, and the deal was witnessed by Ian.
Chihanganlal says the payment was then transferred from his
joint account with his wife.
Despite the apparently smooth transaction, complications
emerged months later.
In August 2022, a friend contacted Chihanganlal, asserting
ownership of the plot.
“I provided him with the title document, but later,
Livingstone Police began investigating Mushoke regarding the same plot,” he
said.
In November, both Chihanganlal and his wife were summoned to
the police station, where he was informed of charges including criminal
trespass and fraudulently obtaining documents.
Chihanganlal maintains his innocence, stating that he did
not know of any competing claims over the plot.
“I was shocked and surprised by my arrest and never had the
chance to explain how I acquired Plot 3099 for my son,” he told the court.
Chihanganlal spent
several hours in police detention before being released on bond, only to have
his wife subsequently charged with obtaining documents fraudulently.
Through his lawyer, Chihanganlal asserted that he conducted
due diligence prior to the purchase.
“I had verification done, and I have the report to prove
it,” he testified.
“I deny the charges against me. I only know Plot 3099, and I
bought it in good faith,” he said.
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