The Petauke Magistrates’ Court has sentenced Nyambe Mutwamo, 42, a senior public prosecutor at the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and Pitman Banda, a court interpreter, to four years imprisonment for corruption involving K10,000.

In a statement, Tuesday, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) corporate affairs officer Christopher Chibanku stated that the two solicited and received K10,000 gratification as an inducement to facilitate the release of a Volvo truck belonging to Aaron Chizwa.

“The Petauke Magistrate Court has convicted both a senior public prosecutor and a court interpreter for corruption and sentenced them to four years imprisonment with hard labour. Lusaka Resident Magistrate honourable Nthandose Chabala sitting in Petauke District found Pitman Banda, a court interpreter, and Nyambe Mutwamo, a senior public prosecutor at National Prosecution Authority guilty of one count each of corrupt practices, contrary to the Anti-Corruption Act number 3 of 2012,” Chibanku stated.

“Particulars are that Pitman Banda, aged 37 of Garden Compound in Petauke District, on unknown dates but between 1st January, 2017, and 30th April, 2017, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown, did corruptly solicit and actually received K10,000.00 cash gratification as an inducement to facilitate the release of a Volvo truck registration number ACZ 8394 belonging to Aaron Chizwa that had been impounded by the Drug Enforcement Commission. Further, Nyambe Mutwamo, aged 42, on unknown dates, but between 1st January, 2017, and 30th April, 2018, jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown, did aid and abet Pitman Banda in the commission of the offence of corrupt solicitation and receipt of K10,000 cash gratification as an inducement in order to facilitate the release of a Volvo truck registration number ACZ 8394 belonging to Aaron Chizwa that had been impounded by the Drug Enforcement Commission.”

He stated that the two were arrested last year by the ACC in connection with the offense.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission in July, 2018, jointly arrested and charged Pitman Banda and Nyambe Mutwamo with one count of Corrupt Practices, contrary to Section 19 sub section (1), and Section 40 sub section (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act Number 3 of 2012 of the laws of Zambia,” stated Chibanku.