“I beg your pardon your honour! I am being framed. I swear in the name of the living God!” shouted Mr.Menza. This attracted the attention of all that were present in the courtroom. “Silent in court” Shouted back the prosecutor to an agitated Mr. Menza who was visibly shaken, angry and desperate in search of words as he tried to convince the court that he indeed was innocent.
"I beg your pardon your honour! I am being framed. I swear in the name of the living God!” shouted Mr.Menza.
This attracted the attention of all that were present in the courtroom. "Silent in court” Shouted back the prosecutor to an agitated Mr. Menza who was visibly shaken, angry and desperate in search of words as he tried to convince the court that he indeed was innocent.
Being a good and law abiding citizen as he is, Mr. Menza had on this particular day left for work a jovial man. He kissed his wife goodbye and as usual dropped his two children at school.
He then proceeded to the city where he worked. He is an accountant by profession and works in a well known and established company. Mr. Menza is diligent in his work and his future in the establishment was indeed bright.
He is religious and a staunch Christian at that. Never at any one time had he toyed with the idea of playing with figures like some of his colleagues in the profession do to enrich themselves.
He reported on time and as usual had a brief prayer meeting with his fellow Christian brethren in the office. It did not take long and sooner or later he was sitted in his office. He took his small Bible from the drawer of his desk as was his custom and read some few scriptures.
He then opened his computer, downloaded the emails and began his duty for the day. He had hardly done anything when the landline phone placed on the right side of his computer rang. "Good morning Mr. Menza.
Hold on for the Director, he wants to talk with you,” the phone operator said. "Get him through and thanks,” answered Mr. Menza
"Good morning Mr. Menza, hope you had a nice weekend,” said the Director from the other end. "It was fantastic. Thank you sir,” answered Mr. Menza.
"Now, I managed to get a new client over the weekend and they have already given us an assignment,” said the
Director. "Thank God. That is good news!” said Mr. Menza.
"I want you after the breakfast to take all that is needed in auditing. There is an institution some sixty kilometres from here that we have been mandated to audit,” the Director told him.
"That is ok sir. I didn’t have much to do today and what is pending I will hand over to my assistant to complete,” Mr. Menza answered.
"Collect the details of the institution plus the fuel voucher from the secretary. She has them already and please, report the progress at the end of the day,” said the Director.
Mr. Menza did not take much time to be ready. He picked what was necessary and started his journey. He had done this for years and was conversant with it. It was on his way to the institution that he met a lady at the side of the road who was frantically trying to stop personal vehicles for a lift.
The lady looked sickly and Mr. Menza was not the kind to ignore the plight of those in need. He heeded to the beckoning of the stranger and pulled the vehicle to the side of the road.
"How can I help you madam?” asked Mr. Menza. "Please, help me sir, am rushing home I just got some bad news. Please, help!” said the stranger to Mr. Menza. He helped her to get the baggage which she had into his vehicle and off they went. "What is the bad news?” inquired Mr. Menza.
The lady looked traumatized and tried to say some words but was not coherent. "Trust in God, all will be ok,” Mr. Menza comforted.
After a short distance, the lady used her hands to ask a now disturbed Mr. Menza to pull the vehicle to the roadside and drop her.
He did as she requested and the stranger alighted from the vehicle and sprang towards a nearby estate again using her hands to thank Mr. Menza. He felt pity for her said a few prayers and proceeded with his journey.
After a few minutes drive from where he dropped the ‘troubled’ lady, there was a traffic police road block. They signalled Mr. Menza to stop for inspection. It did not bother him much since he had the necessary requirement they normally ask for. "Kindly, step out of the vehicle sir.
We need to do some inspection,” a police officer demanded. "No problem sir,” answered Mr. Menza as he stepped out of his vehicle.
Oblivious to Mr. Menza, the lady he gave a lift worked in cahoots with the traffic police to unlawfully solicit money from the unsuspecting motorists. She without his knowledge left a small parcel under the seat containing contraband drugs.
……to be continued…