Solwezi health official, Zulu, sentenced to prison for stealing K24,000 public funds

The Solwezi Subordinate Court has convicted and sentenced a former Environmental Health Technologist in the Ministry of Health to eight months imprisonment with hard labour for Theft by Public Servant involving more than K24,000.00 and Uttering a False Document.

In presiding over the matter, Acting Principal Resident Magistrate, Mambwe Mukonde, sentenced Ackson Zulu on count one to one-year imprisonment with hard labour, eight months of which are suspended.

Judge Mukonde further, sentenced Zulu on count two to eight months imprisonment with hard labour, four months of which are suspended.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Spokesperson, Timothy Moon, in a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday said the convict will however only serve eight months imprisonment with hard labour to run concurrently effective the date of conviction.

Moono said in June 2022, the Commission rearrested Ackson Zulu after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) entered a Nolle Prosequi earlier on during trial.

He said Ackson Zulu a former Environmental Health Technologist in the Ministry of Health was arrested and charged with one count of Theft by Public Servant.

“Details in count one are that on dates unknown but between February 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015, Zulu jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown in Solwezi District, being a public officer namely Environmental Health Technologist in the Ministry of Health, stole a total sum of K24,640.00 property of the government of the Republic of Zambia, allegedly paid to spray operators for the malaria indoor residual spray exercise, which came into his possession by virtue of his employment” Moono said.

He said details in count two are that on dates unknown but between February 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015, in Solwezi District, Zulu, being a public officer namely Environmental Health Technologist in the Ministry of Health, knowingly and fraudulently uttered a false document namely a Journal Voucher dated March 18, 2015, together with attached pay sheets, to an Accounting Officer at Solwezi District Health Office purporting that the said documents were genuine when in fact not.

Meanwhile, Moono said the Commission is studying the judgement and intends to appeal against such an overly lenient sentence that does not reflect the seriousness of the offences committed.

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