A LUSAKA Magistrates' court has threatened to proceed with the case in which Ink-Tech managing director, Matthew Mohan is charged with obtaining goods by false pretences even in the absence of his lawyers.

Magistrate Mwaka Mikalile saidthis when the matter came up for continued trial yesterday that it had dragged on for too long and it was time the prosecution concluded the matter.

The is in the case in which Mohan is jointly charged with Alpine Pipi with obtaining goods by false pretences contrary to Section 309 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Mohan and Pipi on November 9, 2007 obtained 50 radios, nine batteries and one motorbike all valued at more than K67 million from Rolf Pfeifer.

She said the matter had dragged on for a long time and next month it would be clocking two years and the case was still at prosecution stage.

The magistrate said the case would commence with or without the presence of Mohan's lawyers.

Mrs Mikalile's directive came as a result of an adjournment application made by the defence team on grounds that Mohan's lawyer Kelvin Bwalya was not before the court because he was committed to other matters.

But the State objected to an application saying the matter had dragged on for a long time and hence the court should dismiss an application for an adjournment.