Opposition political parties endorse conviction of Kapoko

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Some opposition political parties have welcomed the conviction and sentencing of former  Ministry of Health Chief Human Resource Officer Henry  Kapoko and four others for corruption and theft involving k 6 million.

Mr. Kapoko who was arrested by the ACC in 2009 following the unearthing of a scam involving corruption, theft, and money laundering at the Ministry of Health was on Thursday with four others sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for corruption and theft involving k 6 million.

The sentence includes five years each for theft, 5 years for money laundering and a further nine for theft by public servant.

But Opposition United Party for National Development UPND Secretary General Steven Katuka says the trial and sentencing of Kapoko and four others for corruption and theft for embezzling public funds should serve as a lesson to government officers to shun from engaging in corruption.

Mr. Katuka says such a punishment would serve as a deterrent for Zambians who want to engage in corruption irrespective of their positions.

He says public officers should understand that their job is a calling‚ that they have a duty to serve and protect the people Zambia.

And Third Liberation Movement Leader Enock Tonga says the sentence is a great step in the fight against corruption.

Mr. Tonga says the conviction sends a strong message that no one is above the law.

And New Congress Party Leader Peter Chanda says the sentence is a signal to the public, especially those who handle public funds that they should desist from misusing them.

Mr. Chanda says it also instills confidence in the country’s criminal justice system that those public officers stealing public funds will face the might of the law.

The Political parties have however congratulated the Principal Resident Magistrate Exnobert Zulu for securing the ultimate conviction of former  Ministry of Health Chief Human Resource Officer Henry  Kapoko and four others for corruption and theft involving k 6 million.





PRESS RELEASE


KAPOKO,FOUR OTHERS JAILED 18 YEARS FOR CORRUPTION AND THEFT INVOLVING K6MILLION

The Lusaka Magistrates Court has sentenced Henry Kapoko, former Ministry of Health Chief Human Resources Officer and four others to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour each for corruption, money laundering and theft of over K6million. The sentence includes five years each for theft, 5 years for money laundering and a further nine for theft by public servant.
In a ruling that lasted for two days, Principal Resident Magistrate Hon. Exnobert Zulu convicted Kapoko aged 45, three accountantsnamely ,Zukaskaoma, 47,  EvaristoMusaba, 56, Vincent Luhana, and an Internal Auditor Jasper Phiri, 46. However, honourable Zulu has acquitted other persons that were jointly charged namely Roy Maswenyeho, Luke Makeche, ChrispineSichone, Nobert Peleti, and Essau Banda on account that no offence had been proved against them.
Henry Kapokoand nine other officials from the Ministry of Health were jointly charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission on 67 counts following investigations conducted by the Anti-Corruption, Zambia Police, and Drug Enforcement and were found with a case to answer on 66 counts by the magistrates court.
Hon. Exnobert Zulu in his ruling ordered that all convicts properties  and accounts in which stolen money was deposited be forfeited to the State. He also entered a statutory judgement in favour of the Attorney General to recover over K6.8m from the convicts. The said propertiesinclude 24 motor vehicles including BMW, Mercedes Benz,Nissan Truck. Others are 3 houses, 2 Lodges, 1 Filling station, 5 Banks Accounts.
He ruled that for the money to move in the fashion it did, there was collusion among the five convicts, and therefore the five were also ordered to pay costs incurred by the State during the whole court process.
Hon. Exnobert Zulu found that there were hyper activities in terms of the money Kapoko was depositing into his business and personal bank accounts. He said that Kapoko continued to endorse dubious payments from the Ministry of Health to a named consultancy agency, even after he had been transferred to the then Ministry of Local Government and Housing. This was evidenced in the cheques  and payment vouchers that were found in his house by the investigative wings.
He said that it was peculiar that Kapoko was making huge bank deposits at the same time he was acquiring high value motor vehicles and properties.
In this nine year trial, the investigative wings conducted an investigation following the unearthing of a scam involving corruption, theft, and money laundering at said Ministry.

Timothy Moono
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER


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