The Solwezi Magistrates’ Court has sentenced an Immigration Assistant Officer of Zambezi District to two years imprisonment with hard labour, for corruption involving K116,600.
In a statement, Thursday, Anti-Corruption Commission Corporate Affairs Officer Jonathan Siame said Solwezi Principle Magistrate Davies Chibwili found Ben Mpundu Sokoni, 44, guilty on 13 counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and two counts of theft by Public Servant.
“The Solwezi Magistrate has sentenced an Immigration Assistant Officer to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour for obtaining money by false pretenses by theft by public servant involving K116, 600. Principle Resident Magistrate Hon. Davies Chibwili found Ben Mpundu Sokoni, 44, an Immigration Assistant Officer in charge of Zambezi District in Solwezi of house no.A26 Ndeke Compound, guilty on 13 counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and two counts of theft by public servant contrary to section 3019 and 277 as read with section 265 respectively, of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia,” Siame stated.
“Sokoni has been sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour on each of the 13 counts, and two years’ imprisonment with on each of the other 2 counts. The sentences will run concurrently with effect from 28th May 2017.”
Siyame stated that Sokoni used his position to obtain money on false pretenses that he was going to extend the temporal employment permits for employees of Stefanutti stocks construction company, when in fact not.
“Particulars of the 13 counts of obtaining money by false pretense are that Sokoni, on dates unknown but between 1st November 2012 and 31st 2014 in Zambezi District of Northwestern Province, Zambia, being an Immigration Assistant Officer, did by false pretenses and with intent to defraud, obtain K106, 100.00, purporting that he would facilitate the extension of Temporal Employment Permits for employees of Stefanutti Stocks Constructions Limited Company, when in fact not,” stated Siame.
“Particulars of the two counts of the theft by Public Servant are that on date unknown but between 1st January and 2012 and 31st December 2014, Soko being a public officer, namely Immigration Assistant Officer in Zambezi District of Northwestern Province, did steal K10, 500.00 which came into his possession by virtue of his employment. The convict was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2017.”
One Response
After reading this article, I get the impression that Zambezi is in Solwezi District. Refer to paragraph 3; “…in charge of Zambezi District in Solwezi of house number A26 Ndeke compound…”. There is no Ndeke compound in Solwezi and Zambezi is not in Solwezi. I am sure you know that both are districts in north western- about 500km apart.