Environmental Health Inspector in court for corruption

AN Environmental Health Inspector in the Ministry of Health has appeared at the Lusaka Magistrate Court for corruptly receiving K1, 500 from an employee of West Pacific Farms.

In this matter, Chilufya Wapamesa, 28, of House No. MC1301, Appolo Military Camp in Chilanga is charged with one count of corrupt practices by a public officer contrary to Section 19 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

When the matter came up yesterday for commencement of plea, the state informed the court that the accused could not take plea because the consent to prosecute the matter by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was not ready.

The accused person appeared before Lusaka magistrate Silvia Munyinya who read the charge to him.

It is alleged that Wapamesa received the said money as a reward in order not to take any further action against West Pacific Farms for stocking expired goods.

It is also alleged that Wapamesa was apprehended red-handed with the bribe which he collected.

The court has also granted Wapamesa a bail of K 10, 000 in his recognizance with two working sureties

Meanwhile, a Zambia Airforce Force (ZAF) Warrant Officer, Albert Siyunda and his wife Nandina Lyatamani have pleaded not guilty of being in possession of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime worth over K7, 720,000.

The couple is charged with seven counts of possession and concealment of property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime contrary to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act No. 19 of 2010 of the Laws of Zambia

Details are that between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, Siyunda did possess properties namely six residential houses which were concealed and registered in his wife’s name Lyatamani and one residential house in his own name properties are reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime.