The Kasama Subordinate Court has sentenced a 30-year-old Northern Province Health Office driver to 18 months imprisonment for corrupt practices.

Timothy Gondwe of Winberg compound in Kasama has, however, been acquitted in another count where he was jointly charged with James Makasa, a former Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Officer for an offence of Forgery.

Meanwhile, a count in which James Makasa aged 47 of Plot number 440, Mukulumpe Residential Area in Kasama was charged separately, fell off as he died during trial.

According to a statement issued by Anti-Corruption Commission Corporate Affairs Officer Collins Chilambwe, Gondwe was found guilty on three counts before Principal Resident Magistrate Vincent Sikota.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission in 2015 charged and arrested James Makasa and Timothy Gondwe with five charges of corruption. The two were jointly charged with one count of forgery contrary to section 342 and 347 of Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but between 27th July 2011 and 7th January 2012 at Kasama district of Northern Province, Makasa whilst working as Assistant RTSA Officer and Gondwe jointly and while acting together, with intent to defraud or deceive did forge a Pass Certificate no. 0033997 in the names of Lazarous Bwale purporting to show that it was genuinely authorized and issued to Timothy Gondwe when in fact not,” Chilambwe stated.

“Gondwe on the other hand was separately charged with three counts. In count one he was charged with giving false information contrary to section 125, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Particulars of the offence are that Gondwe on dates unknown but between 27th July 2011 and 31st September 2011 at Kasama of the Northern Province knowingly did give false information to a Public Officer namely Inspector Clarence Mphande of Zambia Police Service to the effect that he had lost his driving licence thereby causing the said Inspector Clarence Mphande to act on false information to issue a Police Report.”

Chilambwe explained that in count two, Gondwe was charged with forgery contrary to section 342 and 347 of Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

“Particulars of the offence are that Gondwe on dates unknown but between 27th July 2011 and 7th January 2012 at Kasama district of the Northern Province, with intent to defraud or deceive did forge a Zambia Police Report that was issued by inspector Clarence Mphande by introducing wherein the words “and n.r.c” without authority…And in count three he was charged with Uttering a false document contrary to section 352 and 347 of Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. Particulars of the offence are that Gondwe on dates unknown but between 27th July 2011 and 7th January 2012 at Kasama district of the Northern Province, he knowingly and fraudulently did utter a false document namely Police Report and a Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Pass Certificate no. 0033997 to Emmanuel Mwambazi, a Human Resource Management Officer at Ministry of Health – Kasama General Hospital,” he stated.

Chilambwe stated that James Makasa, who died during trial, was also separately charged with one count of forgery contrary to section 342 and 347 of Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

“Particulars of the offence are that on or about 11th January 2012 at Kasama district of the Northern Province, Makasa whilst working as Assistant RTSA Officer jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown, with intent to defraud or deceive did forge a Pass Certificate no. 0033605 in the name of James Simbeye purporting to show that it was genuinely authorized and issued to Martin Mbuta when in fact not. Hon Siloka in passing judgement said Mr Timothy Gondwe’s sentence for all the three counts are to run concurrently,” stated Chilambwe.