Five accountants jailed for 31 years

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File: 8 accountants from ministry of Home Affairs who where jailed for five years each for theft by public servant by the Lusaka magistrate court being escorted to prison after the conviction

The Ndola Magistrates Court yesterday convicted five former Cabinet Office accountants and slapped them a combined sentence of 31 years imprisonment for money laundering and misappropriating public funds amounting to over K2 billion.

The case has been pending for the past three years.

Among the jailed are former Chief accountant Innocent Hatombwe, 40, of house number 6 Mbala road in Kansenshi, former Principal accountant John Chitalu Musonda, 50, of house number 4745 G Tanzania road in Northrise and former local government officer Peter Mwape Kapesebele, 31, of house number 121 Petauke road in Kansenshi.

Others are former accounts assistants Susan N’cube Mpongosa, 34, of house number 5790, Victor Mulenga road and Clement Liwena, 35, of house number 30 Feira road both of whom stay in Kansenshi.

The five are alleged to have between May 2007 and October 2008, being employees in the public service at the Copperbelt provincial accounting unit, stolen money amounting to over K2 billion.

The five committed an offence of theft by public servant contrary to section 277 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia and laundered money contrary to section 7 of the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act 14 of 2001.

Facts before the court were that Hatombwe did between January 2008 and January 2009 engage in illegal business transactions involving over K200 million and used some of the proceeds to buy a vehicle for himself.

Mpongosa is said to have, between January 2007 and January 2009, engaged in illegal transactions involving over K90 million and used part of the proceeds to buy a house in Kansenshi Extension.

High Court deputy registrar Kelvin Limbani sitting as chief resident magistrate, sentenced Hantobwe to eight years, Musonda to seven years, Kapesebele to six years, Mpongosa to five years and Liwena to five respectively.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Geshorm Mubanga of Mubanga and Associates asked the magistrate to be lenient on all the accused as they have families to look after and were not working from the time they were arrested.

But Magistrate Limbani said cases of theft in government have been on the increase and have affected the lives of many innocent citizens because of few selfish individuals.

“Therefore, measures and actions have to be taken so that public funds are safeguarded and all those who keep public funds must keep them for the intended purpose,” he said
[Zambia Daily Mail]

71 COMMENTS

  1. 31 x 5 = 155…FAST FAST…NO TIME WASTING…LET EVERYONE SEE THIS GOVERNMENT AT WORK…TWATAMPAKO UKUMINGISHA DUNGEON….BAICE MULEBANYESHA NGABABALETA….

  5. This is what we hope 2 see even with Liatos case and it makes me wonder why this case has been pending 4 that long please lets not waste too much time on cases involving thieves their final destination is behind the bars period.

  7. 31 Yrs is unreasonable, how many have wronged and gone free, these guys deserve punishment but reasonable. Most guys in government commit big crimes all departments including judiciary, just because a few were careless doesnt make others clean

  11. They have not been jailed for 31 years each, but a combined sentence of 31 years. This means that when you sum up the sentences of the individuals involved it totals up to 31 years.

  13. I thought its 31 years imprisonment for each. Sembe na shusha because it was going to be beyond the jurisdiction of a magistrate court.Too bad guys see you when you are out.

  14. #1 Analyst
    Read properly, dont rush to comments. its combined sentence of 31 years, each one has their own sentence but put togather it comes to 31. Thats why we remain in developing status as african cos many of us dont like reading. You want to comment first, comment on what, what you dont know?

    Coming to the issue, the heavy sentence is meant to deter the would be.

  15. this combination has all the loggerheaded tribes…i am very surprised!!!!!!!….HATOMBWE,NC’UBE,LIMBANI,LIWENA,CHITALU,MULENGA…..there is one zambia…one nation on the crew…….nice one LOL…..

  17. @bushman which province???
    this is how this will play those guys will appeal aganist the ruling in the high court and be on bail awaiting the ever longer processing of executing the application in the high
    furthermore the sames guys might not see the inside of the jail if the sentence is from the time of arrest literally they served 3yrs already….

  18. Wao: Next Judgement please!! We have always argued that the way some of our colleagues have become wealthy in a very short time has been dubious, though we are not concerned so much. If Judges can now start sending a clear message. Confidence will be back with the courts and maybe, just may be, we may see the vindictiveness of the pevious judgements in the later part of the MMD era wane a bit. the bribery, the “who you know”; I tell you it stunk big time.

  20. i thought thieving, according to some bloggers on this site, is a preserve for bembas. why include hatombwe, liwena on that list. something is very wrong with some of you bloggers. insala ni nsala, taisala. i will be back.

  22. #16: Mwine Mushi, bushman #11 meant “Northern province”; am sure when he say the name o fthe road “Victor Mulenga”; the person “Chitalu Musonda”; that was him convinced that it was the “Bemba thieves” as they call us. It means Hatombwe is bemba too, and the rest of them. We can also claim Mabenga, Liato, as bembas. This is because in their own thesis, Bembas are the thieves; and they have a blanked cover for bembas; at least am strong enough to say it as i always read from the blogs.
    The only true color and tribe of a thief is “Thief tribe”; this tribe is colour blind, no national boundaries and affects everyone. If you are not a thief, why worry?

  25. @13 UMUFYASHI and @21 AT A GLANCE: You’re right, I think our friend Analyst needs help. According the report above, if you add the number of YEARS to which the five have INDIVIDUALLY been sentenced, the answer is 31YEARS. Analyst refuses to admit his/her mistake and tries to justify his point by converting years into months, but still misses the point that there are 12 MONTHS IN A YEAR, so where does the 155 come from?

  28. #16: Mwine Mushi, bushman #11 meant “Northern province”; am sure when he say the name o fthe road “Victor Mulenga”; the person “Chitalu Musonda”; that was him convinced that it was the “Bemba thieves” as they call us. It means Hatombwe is bemba too, and the rest of them. We can also claim Mabenga, Liato, as bembas. This is because in their own thesis, Bembas are the thieves; and they have a blanked cover for bembas; at least am strong enough to say it as i always read from the blogs.
    The only true color and tribe of a thief is “Thief tribe”; this tribe is colour blind, no national boundaries and affects everyone. If you are not a thief, why worry?

  29. the sentence runs from day of arrest. tho not said but thats how it goes bane. so those guys have already saved a bit of it, taking into account that they have lost what was bought from the alleged monies.so from the pronounced dates subtract about two-threes and that which remains is theres for galos.

  31. Hatombwe was the chief thief, as chief accountant. If he was not a thief, the juniors would not have stolen. I hope he got the longest jail term.

  35. THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS ALTHOUGH THE SENTENCES ARE TWO LENIENT. BUT FOR A START THIS PF GOVERNMENT MEANS BUSINESS. NEXT ON THE PENDING LIST ARE LIATO, RB AND HIS GIRL FRIEND DORA, CHILUBA, GKUNDA. THE LIST SEEMS TO BE ENDLESS. VIVA PF GRZ.

  38. DAWN OF NEW LIGHT: May it indeed dawn on all Zambians to respect the importance of being loyal to the Zambian people when entrusted with what belongs to them. After all you’re paid a salary to ensure that what belongs to ALL Zambians is first of all SAFE & SECURE and also that it is dibursed for the INTENDED USE at best advantage to every Zambia citizen. Anything short of this renders one unfit for such office, so ; GOOD LESSON.

  39. Bushman, so Haaaatooombwe is bemba afer all? Ok, unless you are removing ha maybe the rest of the name could bemba. this case could have have been better than this. at least 20 up to 10 years or is it 10 to 20 years. Ba “Innocent” Hatombwe, my condolences.

  43. Lol, I wonder what Innocent Hantombwe and Clement Liwena are doing on that list. I guess corruption is contageous. Lol.
    This sends out a strong message because in government, we focus too much on nailing the bosses and leaving the subordinates. I think subordinates will have to give evidence.

  44. Not so innocent is he?

    OK guys, mini reshufle at deputy minister level.

    Katombora is fired. Miles go to SP. 3 MMD mugs appointed as deputy ministers.

  49. The picture does not tie with the story 8 accountants from Ministry of Home affairs(Lusaka) and the heading says 5 accountants from Cabinet office (Ndola). Check your details properly.

  50. Story iz too confusing. Ndola residents who work at, Cabinet Office, the Ndola court or Lusaka magistrate court sentences them to a combined 31 years. Why combine it? Just tell us the individual sentences. Five accountants become eight in the caption Yaba!

  51. Who is next?Ministry of health Kapoko and the group including former P.S at the ministry Dr MITI.
    surely Kapoko was not doing it by himself.We need sanity to be brought back to this ministry by showing that stealing does not pay especially if the big chunk of money to run it is doner-driven.

  53. Why are those guys hidding themselves? It must be true then that they are guilty. Because someone who is, can’t hide. Does this mean that I Liato is found guity, he will get 31 years also???? Mathematics K2,1bn. Actually more that 31 yrs!

  55. This is want we people should be hearing when it comes to corruption charges jail them when found guilty that way Zambian people will have confidence in government fighting corruption. please now extend also jail sentences to senior government officials that have been found in this mess stealing.

  56. When When are we going to start to see politicians being paraded…are you telling me you can’t find anything on BUFF00N RB or Dora. Give me top level GRZ access and clearance to all departments and i’ll bring crooks in 7 days target. 

  58. Lets not be just good at talking, analyse. The case was at Mag court They are free to ……………………………. and you what happens.

  61. that is how we deter theft in the civil service? we waste a lot of money on toothless commissions…..stiffen the laws and we shall see who has the gutts to plunder from our much needed resources? amen justice has prevailed for the first time in our pathetic nation.

  62. THIS MONEY IS TOO LITTLE FOR THESE CONTRYMEN TO BE JAILED. POLITICIANS HAVE GONE SCOT FREE SO THE MESSAGE PF GOVERNMENT IS SENDING TO PROFESSIONALS IS NEVER WORK IN ZAMBIA, LEAVE THE PROFESSIONAL JOBS TO KAPONYA POLITICIANS.

    • Young man there are jobs for you in Somalia pack yr stinking bags and go. big middle figure rite in yr dirty hole in the back.Zambia needs honest Accountants not yr kind and Liato

  63. LT your reporting sucks it lacks the depth you are but Morons.Your reporting is shallow,These Accountants what did the Govt do about the properties they had bought using the public funds they stole?The sentences of five years was a slap on the wrist the judge should have sent these heartless savages to 14 yrs to 18 yrs in Prison and ban them for life to hold an accounting job,consulting or a management job .

  64. Imwe banani nani, me when I grew up I had friends called beenzu, mulenga, mulikita, kakoma, daka, and so forth. These guys are still my friends, so lets cut this bullshit.

  66. I think we are all agreed on one point. The Government System is rotten and it will take a lot of sacrifice to correct. I understand Hatombwe has forfeited the car he allegedly bought from the theft of Publc funds, Possibly worth no more than K50 million. What has happened to the Bulk of the K2 billion. Perhaps being used to hire expensive lawyers and even could have been used to purchase the houses in Kansenshi, curious how they all live in Good neighbourhoods on K2.5 million a month? Next as we are all agreed some Judge will also be bribed and grant bail on appeal, they will eat and drink with us using money they stole from Public Coffers and invested. This country is a circus. The world corruption day came and went without comment. Lets be serious, perhaps a match on to Parliament?

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