Former FIC clerk jailed for theft, money laundering

Eric Ndhlovu, a 31-year-old former stores clerk at the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), has been sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour after being convicted of theft and fraudulent false accounting involving over K100,000.

Lusaka Magistrate, Trevor Kasanda, handed down the ruling, finding Ndhlovu guilty of forgery, theft by a public servant, and fraudulent false accounting.

For theft by a public servant, Ndhlovu received a 24-month sentence with hard labour.

Additionally, he was fined K25,000 for money laundering, payable within a week, failing which he will face an additional 12 months’ imprisonment.

For fraudulent false accounting, he was sentenced to three years with hard labour, to be served concurrently.

The court also ordered the state to recover the stolen K108,000, emphasizing that the funds, classified as proceeds of crime, must be reclaimed.

Magistrate Kasanda outlined how Ndhlovu exploited his position at the FIC to orchestrate the theft. Evidence presented by Webster Chibomba, a banker at Zanaco, revealed multiple transactions in Ndhlovu’s bank account involving funds transferred from the FIC’s Investrust Bank account.

These stolen funds were traced to the purchase of a Toyota Mark II vehicle.

Moses Banda, a driver at the FIC, testified to witnessing the car purchase.

Chibomba further detailed how Ndhlovu transferred K10,000 to Banda’s account and later withdrew K9,900 to complete the purchase.

Supporting documents, including a letter of sale and the vehicle’s registration certificate, tied the acquisition to the misappropriated funds.

Magistrate Kasanda highlighted that the money laundering charge was substantiated, noting Ndhlovu knowingly used proceeds of crime for personal benefit.

“The accused was fully aware that the funds he withdrew belonged to his employer but deliberately forged documents to misappropriate the money,” Kasanda stated.

In mitigation, Ndhlovu’s legal team pleaded for leniency, citing his status as a first offender, a father to a one-year-old child, and caretaker of a blind brother.

However, the magistrate emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting that evidence from witnesses conclusively linked Ndhlovu to the forged documents and stolen funds.

“The accused’s actions clearly demonstrated an intent to defraud the FIC,” Kasanda ruled, adding that the stolen money was used to purchase assets such as the Toyota Mark II.

Ndhlovu will now serve his sentences concurrently, with the court reiterating the state’s right to recover the stolen funds.

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