SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
@SunZambian
A former assistant accountant in the Ministry of Health (MoH), Fred Halwiindi has been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour for corruption involving over K600, 000, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has confirmed.
In a statement, ACC corporate affairs officer Christopher Chibanku said the Chipata Subordinate Court convicted Mr Halwiindi for corruption and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with hard labour.
“Chipata Magistrate Pauline Mulenga found Fred Halwiindi, a former Assistant Accountant at the Ministry of Health in Eastern Province guilty on 18 counts of Theft by Public Servant, one count of being in possession of property suspected of being Proceeds of Crime, and one count of Forgery contrary to the Laws of Zambia,” Mr Chibanku said.
He stated that particulars on the 18 counts of theft by public servant were that on dates unknown but between 1st September 2011 and 30th September 2011 in Chipata district being a public officer namely an assistant accountant in the ministry of health, Halwiindi did steal a cumulative total sum of over K600, 000 the property of the Government which came into his possession by virtue of his employment.
“Particulars on one count of Possession of Property Suspected of being Proceeds of Crime are that on dates unknown but between 1st June 2011 and 31st December 2011 in Chipata District, Halwiindi, did have in his possession, a house on property number 2852 Little Bombay in Chipata, a property suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to section 71(1) of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010,” he said.
Mr Chibanku said the Court has since forfeited the house to the State valued at K850, 000.00 and other items such as laptops, computers, printers, air conditioners.
“Particulars on one count of forgery are that on dates unknown but between 1st June 2011 and 31st December 2011 in Chipata District, Halwiindi, with intent to defraud or deceive, did forge 24 Finance Bank Cheques contrary to section 342 and 347 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. He purported that the said cheques were genuinely authorized and signed by Dr. Davie Simwaba, the then Chipata District Medical Officer, when in fact not,” Mr Chibanku said.
In 2011, he said, the Anti-Corruption Commission in Eastern Province arrested and charged Fred Halwiindi with 18 counts of Theft by Servant, one count of Forgery and one count of being in Possession of Property suspected to be Proceeds of Crime contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
