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The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has formerly charged and arrested Ministry of Finance and National Planning Permanent Secretary, Mukuli Chikuba, for multiple offences involving over K2 million.
ACC Head of Corporate Communications, Timothy Moono, said the offences included Abuse of Authority of Office, Willful Failure to Follow Applicable Procedure and Theft by Public Servant contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Moono said this during the second quarter media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday held at the ACC Headoffice.
He said the Commission had been investigating public officials at the Ministry which resulted in the arrest of 20 officials for making payments for fictitious activities and theft of public funds.
“Those arrested included former Auditor General Dr. Dick Sichembe, the Accountant General, and two Deputy Auditor Generals,” Moono said.
He said Mr. Chikuba had since been released on bond and was expected to appear in court soon.
Moono said in addition, the Commission had also arrested the Director of Internal Audit at the same Ministry, Francis Ngwenya.
“Mr. Ngwenya has been charged with the offences of Abuse of Authority of Office, Willful Failure to Follow Applicable Procedure and Obtaining money by false pretenses involving K1,044,366.11 in form of allowances contrary to the laws of Zambia,” he said.
Moono said Mr. Ngwenya had since been released on Bond and was expected to appear in court soon.
He also said the Commission had been receiving requests from some Ministry of Finance officials to pay back their illegally obtained funds.
“The Commission has been analyzing these requests and may grant them in accordance with Section 80 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012,” Moono said.
He further said the Commission had also taken note of the latest Trends Report released by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).
Moono said the Commission had been analysing the matters that are contained in the report and strategising on those cases that relate to the mandate of the Commission.
“However, I wish to inform you that in the second quarter, the Commission actually received one report of suspected corrupt practices from the FIC.
The Commission earlier in the first quarter of this year received four reports from the FIC. As such, the Commission has received a total of five cases from the FIC so far and all the cases are still under investigation,” he said.
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