The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a former Zambian Breweries accountant to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour for corruption involving over K1 million.

In this matter, Geoffrey Chanda, 36, was charged with 21 counts of fraudulent false accounting and 69 counts of theft by servant.

In a statement issued yesterday, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) corporate affairs officer Christopher Chibanku stated that Chanda was arrested by the Commission in January last year.

He stated that Chanda, whilst employed at Zambia Breweries as Trainee Credit Manager, made false entries in the Zambian Breweries’ client account system and stole in excess of K1 million from his former employer.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission in January, 2018, arrested Geoffrey Mulenga Chanda, 36, of house no. 18305/6 Hillview Park, Libala South, and charged him with 21 counts of fraudulent false accounting, contrary to section 326 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia, and 69 counts of theft by servant, contrary to section 272 as read with section 278 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia,” Chibanku stated.

“Details are that on dates unknown but between August 1, 2018, and November 30, 2013 in Lusaka Province of the Republic of Zambia; Mr Chanda, whilst employed at Zambian Breweries Plc, specifically a Trainee Credit Manager, made false entries in the Zambian Breweries Plc client account system and stole in excess of K1,000, 000.00 from his former employer.”

Chibanku stated that Chanda’s matter was presided over by Magistrate Greenwell Walumani who sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

“He has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for each of the 21 counts of fraudulent false accounting, and five years’ imprisonment with hard labour for each of the 69 counts of theft by servant, which shall run concurrently. The matter was presided over by Principal Resident Magistrate Honourable Malumani,” stated Chibanku.