Man jailed 12 months for impersonation

THE Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 34-year-old man of Lusaka’s Chamba Valley to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour for personating a Zambia Air Force officer when in fact not.

This matter came up yesterday before Magistrate Albert Mwaba for plea.

In this matter, it is alleged that Everisto Samwingi 40, and Joe Chitengi (age unknown) did impersonate ZAF public officers and collected money amounting to K150 from Truth Kaywa Paul to facilitate his application in the Zambia Airforce.

Facts are that the two accused persons collected money in the amount of K150 purporting to be ZAF officer who would help him get a job in the air force.

The two were reported to the police after learning that they had been collecting money from people purporting to be public officers in ZAF.

Particulars are that Everisto Samwingi and Joe Chitengi on unknown dates but between October 11 2017 and December 2nd 2017 in Lusaka, falsely present themselves as persons employed in the Public Office namely Zambia Airforce officers to Truth Kaywa Paul when in fact not.

When the matter came up Samwingi pleaded guilty while Chitengi did not plead guilty to the charge. Mr Mwaba told the accused that the offence he had committed carried serious punishment especially that he defrauded a poor person looking for a job by acting as a public officer.

“In your own admission of guilt, I convict you accordingly as the offence you have committed carries serious punishment,” he said.

Samwingi, a first offender was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour while Chitengi’s trial begins on January 9th 2018.