Accountant goes in 2 years for theft
By Staff Reporter
The Chipata Subordinate Court has convicted a former assistant Accountant at the Ministry of Health for corruption and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with hard labour.
Chipata Magistrate Pauline Mulenga found Fred Halwiindi guilty of 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.
Particulars are 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 which came into his possession by virtue of his employment.
In the account, particulars 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.
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.
In 2011, the Anti-Corruption Commission in Eastern Province arrested and charged 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.
