. KATANGA

By JAMES KUNDA –
FIVE bandits have been shot dead during an exchange of gunfire to thwart an armed robbery at a Chinese-owned beverage company in Lusaka’s Chalala area.
Two other bandits escaped the shooting and went away with K21,000. A manhunt has since been launched by police.
One unregistered Mercedes Benz, three guns, six bricks of cigarettes, three packets of Chinese tea and K4,500 in the form of coins were recovered from the crime scene.
The incident happened yesterday morning after police received a tip-off that an armed robbery was under way at the beverage plant, Ice Flower, which manufactures soft drinks.
Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed the incident in an interview yesterday.
Upon receipt of the intelligence information, the Anti-robbery Squad immediately swung into action, thronging the scene where the suspects were found, resulting in an instant heavy exchange of gunfire.
In the process, the five, three of whom were recently released from prison, were shot dead while two others escaped.
The criminals also hit a 58-year-old Chinese, Li Wan Li, who was among other Chinese officials at the scene, with a pump-action shotgun.
Mr Li was bruised on his left hand and cheeks and was later issued with a medical report.
“The seven were demanding money from the Chinese, but when the Anti-robbery Squad arrived at the scene, five were gunned down while two escaped.
“The duo escaped separately with one going away in an unregistered white Toyota Corolla while the other used a black unregistered Toyota RunX,” she said.
Ms Katanga said police were holding an unregistered silver Mercedes Benz, one AK-47 assault rifle with five rounds of ammunition, with an erased serial number and a pump-action shotgun, serial number 5130 with one round of ammunition.
“We also recovered an unknown type of a pistol spray gun with no rounds of ammunition, six bricks of cigarettes, three packs of Chinese tea and K4,500 in coins,” Ms Katanga said.
All the recovered items are in the possession of police while the bodies of the deceased are in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) mortuary.