Palan’s judgment set for Jan 7

THE Lusaka Magistrate’s Court has set January 7 next year as the day for judgment after Game Stores manager Vincent Palan closed his defence in the case in which he is facing sexual harassment charges.
Palan appeared before acting chief resident magistrate Aridah Chulu and denied sexually harassing his former female employee, Mukamuluti Mwila.
Palan is charged with two counts of indecent assault and sexual harassment of some female employees at Game Stores in Lusaka last year.

In his defence, he testified that he knew Ms Mwila because she worked at Game Stores, but that he had no direct dealings with her as she was junior and reported to other line managers at the store.
Palan said he did not interact with Ms Mwila in terms of teaching her to draw up a promotion schedule and that he could not have touched her thigh as he was unable to open the computer in the sales manager’s office ,where he is alleged to have done that.
He also denied touching Ms Mwila’s breasts and bottom, saying had he done so, sales manager Phillip Lumba would have seen him because he was sitting across him in his office.
Palan also denied touching Ms Mwila suggestively in his office, saying she was never in his office at the time she indicated because he was attending a meeting with other managers.
He closed his case and Ms Chulu set January 7, 2016 as the date for judgment.

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